The idiotic game of “ding dong ditch” has been around a lot longer than the last few years. Friends of mine were fond of the game when I was growing up, all too many years ago. You basically just knock on a door or ring a doorbell, then take off running.It annoys the homeowner, it gives kids a bit of a thrill, but ultimately, no harm is done. It’s like calling someone and asking if their refrigerator is running.These days, some have tried to liken the game to others kicking doors like they’re trying to…
United States ruler Donald Trump said that kidnapping Cuba’s ruler, Miguel Diaz-Canel, “wouldn’t be very tough.” But Trump added that an operation to take out the Cuban leader won’t be necessary anyway, due to the worsening US-induced energy shortage. Trump made the comments while speaking on Tuesday to reporters aboard Air Force One. He praised his strategy of economically isolating the island nation, which has been under a US trade embargo since 1960, as a means of forcing Havana to make concessions. “In the meantime, there’s an embargo. There’s no oil. There’s no money. There’s no anything,” he said, taking…
The White House announced a new director of the National Park Service (NPS) last week — and parks advocacy groups are not happy about the choice. Hospitality executive Scott Socha is President Trump’s pick to lead the NPS, according to a list of new federal appointments announced on Feb. 11. Unlike many past directors of the NPS, Socha has no apparent experience in public service or conservation. Moreover, Socha’s company, Delaware North, specializes in hotels and resorts, many of which are located within national parks. Delaware North has even successfully sued the NPS over the ownership of iconic names, including…
Before the Lewiston shooting, Maine had what was termed a “yellow flag” law. It worked like a red flag law, but it was more limited in who could seek an order. Basically, it left it up to mental health experts after an evaluation. Unfortunately, the Lewiston killer had seen mental health professionals who didn’t do anything. It was reported that the law was too complex and that no one was really sure how to use it, so no one bothered.A terrible excuse, in my view, but whatever.Regardless of my take, though, Maine implemented a red…
Gun Owners of America is celebrating what it calls another shot across the bow of the ATF. Congress and President Trump just signed the latest federal funding bill into law, and tucked inside is a $40 million cut to the ATF’s budget. It’s not the sweeping rollback some in the House originally pushed for, but GOA says it’s part of a bigger trend: stopping the agency’s growth, and shrinking it where possible. According to GOA, the ATF’s budget steadily climbed from roughly $1.4 billion in 2019 to about $1.75 billion by 2022. The Biden administration later requested as much as…
As I make my way around a hairpin left, a 30-degree slope enters my vision. Undeterred, I turn on X-mode and start to ascend. The Dunlop Grandtrek all-terrain tires momentarily slip and strain as I climb. But the 2026 Toyota BZ Woodland dutifully marches up the grade, greeting me with a stunning vista of rolling hills and avocado farms beneath me as the cobalt Pacific Ocean wafts in the distance. With 8.4 inches of ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, and nearly 400 pound-feet of torque to play with, the bZ Woodland makes ventures like this comfortable. And, thankfully, I only…
United States senator and war hawk, Lindsey Graham, has said that Israel is at the forefront of cutting-edge weapons development. He said that future wars are already “being planned in Israel,” as it surpasses the U.S.’s abilities. Israel is advancing down the road of new weaponry far beyond us,” he added. Graham added that Washington should invest in Israel’s defense industry rather than “just writing a check” for military aid.“ He made these comments in Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid on Monday. “I like that idea. The wars of the future are…
A high school senior night in Rhode Island turned into chaos Monday when a gunman opened fire inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, killing two people and critically wounding three others before fatally shooting himself. According to on-scene coverage from WCVB, police say the suspect shot five people inside the rink. Two victims died, and three remain in critical condition. Players and families were bused to the Pawtucket Police Department for interviews as detectives began piecing together what happened. One woman leaving the police station identified the gunman as her father. “My father was a shooter… He shot my family.…
National Rifle Association members are navigating the conflict between the Association and NRA Foundation; the Friends of NRA Program is still on with funds going to other (c)(3)s. Earlier this year the National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit against the NRA Foundation. The NRA alleges that the Foundation is withholding crucial funds earmarked for NRA flagship programs. The NRA said that some programs — like ones benefiting law enforcement — were cut over 55 percent. NRA members and supporters have been worried about the state of the Friends of the NRA programs since this feud…
Range Day at SHOT Show 2026 is where weird ideas either flop or quietly impress. At the Rock Island Armory bay, the new PK-12 “Pak-Out” landed firmly in the second camp. This is a 12-gauge pump gun built around one idea: shrink it down without turning it into a gimmick. The pricing on the Rock Island Armory Pak-Out shotgun is in the $400-$500 range. Unfolded, the Pak-Out measures 37.25 inches. Folded, it collapses to roughly 18.5 inches. Small enough to stash in a backpack without feeling like you’re hauling plumbing. The trick is a clever folding system that locks at…
I’ve written a handful of novels in my time, so I’m familiar with the concept of fiction, as opposed to reality. The two have a tenuous relationship at best, and part of that is that stuff that would never fly in a work of fiction can most definitely happen in real life. I’ve seen it way too often. But fiction is also the figment of the writer’s imagination. When I write fiction, I can make the characters do or say whatever I want, more or less. As a result, I can have them do something…
Franchi’s new MULE (short for Momentum Utility Lite Elite) isn’t chasing trends (it’s just chasing acronyms). It’s built to be a practical, do‑everything rifle that makes sense in states with semi‑auto restrictions, works as a defensive long gun, and still feels at home riding in a truck or hunting across the back forty. It’s a modern interpretation of an old idea: one rifle that earns its keep. Built for Utility, Not the Safe The MULE is compact and purposeful. A 16.25‑inch, suppressor‑ready barrel keeps the rifle short and maneuverable while still offering practical ballistic performance in .223 Remington and .308…
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that “In just a few days, the world will move to a more dangerous state, compared to what we had so far.” Peskov is referring to a key nuclear reduction treaty between Russia and the United States that expires on February 5th. Peskov added that if the U.S. rejects the extension, “it would be very bad for the safety of the world, for strategic security,” he added. The New START treaty, which limits the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, will expire on Thursday. Peskov reiterated Russia’s offer to extend the deal for another year during…
When you hear the phrase “national park,” I generally imagine towering mountains, pristine lakes, and stunning landscapes, all with miles of hiking trails. A downtown block with paved walking paths and views of skyscrapers doesn’t come to mind. And yet, that’s precisely what comprises America’s smallest (and, in my opinion, most absurd) national park: Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Mo. I’ve lived in St. Louis for nearly a decade, and the fact that the Arch is a national park has always struck me as strange and somewhat ridiculous. The area is small and unimpressive, and isn’t naturally beautiful…
In recent years, gun control advocates have begun targeting gun sellers as well as gun buyers, imposing state licensing mandates that come with a number of costly security and reporting mandates. In New Mexico, lawmakers have paired a ban on semi-automatic long guns with a “gun dealer accountability” measure, while Virginia Democrats have introduced standalone legislation that, among other things, requires FFLs to film and record “video footage inside and outside buildings where firearms are stored.” A similar provision took effect in California in 2024, requiring all gun store owners to record both video and…
At SHOT Show 2026, Henry Repeating Arms showed that even a classic can evolve without losing the plot. Henry’s rimfire lineup still revolves around the H1 .22 lever action, the company’s original bread-and-butter rifle. But instead of reinventing it, Henry took a modular approach: build new parts, mix and match configurations, and see what shooters actually gravitate toward. Waiting on pricing to be published on the Henry Repeating Arms website. The standout is the X Model .22, which borrows heavily from Henry’s centerfire X Model playbook and applies it to rimfire for the first time. Available in .22 LR and…
Earlier this year, I tested the new Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 scope with a Ruger American Predator 18″ .308 rifle and premium ammunition, including the Barnes 130 grain TTSX. This past deer season put that setup to the test, and it delivered admirably. What started as careful preparation and range work culminated in a successful harvest of a mature 8-point buck, proving just how well modern solid-copper bullet technology performs when it matters most. A Quick Recap of the Rifle Setup For those who might have missed the initial review, here’s the rifle setup I was testing: Ruger American Predator…
As the pandemic backcountry boom fades to a distant memory, ski brands have been focused on making all-mountain skis that attempt to fill the “one-ski quiver” fallacy. This shift from specialization to versatility has driven the rollout of dozens of skis that can allegedly handle it all — groomers, variable conditions, park sessions, and off-piste terrain. If this sounds too good to be true, you’ve come to the right place. The latest 4FRNT Renegade bucks the trend, focusing on just one thing: maximizing powder turns. Let’s start with the obvious: Renegades are reverse camber (sometimes called full rocker), which, in…
2025 felt like the year of gun rights. We got some movement on the NFA, the repeal of Biden’s anti-gun executive orders, and the DOJ going after states and local governments that are stomping on our right to keep and bear arms. It was a good year for us, all things considered. This year has started off in the wrong direction with some very troubling comments from the White House and other administration officials.In Virginia, Gov. Abigail Spanberger and her fellow Democrats took control of both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office and…
in Levi Sim, SHOT Show 2026 The Böker Plus Extension Knife is possibly the weirdest knife I’ve ever seen. It’s like the guys who made G.I. Joes and Transformers in the 1980s made a full-size blade. Designed by Hein, it appears to be a chunky, belt knife with a full tang 4.7″ clip point profile. What sets it apart is the extendable blade design. Press a button, and the handle flips end for end, doubling the exposed blade length. It’s more than meets the eye. Now it’s a kukuri-ish profile blade, 7.3″ long, and ready for all kinds of bushcraft…
An ex-Army soldier in Alabama has been sentenced to more than 20 years in a military prison after being convicted of killing a comrade during a fight in their barracks.Pvt. Brian Jones Jr., 24, pleaded guilty on Jan. 29 to one count of unpremeditated murder in the death of Pvt. Abdul N. Latifu, 21, of New York City. Jones, who was dishonorably discharged according to the Fort Rucker Public Affairs Office, will serve his sentence at the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.The killing occurred on Jan. 10, 2023, with the case coming to a conclusion last Thursday…
