Sgt. Ross F. Gray carried a satchel charge through a minefield while under heavy Japanese fire. The explosive weighed 24 pounds and left no room for a rifle. He went in unarmed anyway. Behind him, three Marines provided cover. Ahead, a fortified Japanese bunker anchored one end of a network of gun emplacements that had stopped his platoon cold on Feb. 21, 1945, two days into the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. Gray had already mapped a route through the field on foot, under fire, without triggering a single mine. Now he was going back in to finish what…
A climbing rope is your literal lifeline. The best options strike a perfect balance between smooth handling, reliable fall-catching, and the durability to withstand seasons of abrasion. For this update, GearJunkie contributor Miya Tsudome spent three months evaluating two new ropes, tying into each cord for three to five separate climbs on the sharp granite of Pine Creek Canyon and the welded tuff of the Owens River Gorge. The Mammut Alpine Core Protect takes the top spot as our favorite overall rope thanks to an innovative cut-resistant core that provides unparalleled safety on sharp edges, while the Edelrid Tommy Caldwell…
Kentucky, despite a Democratic governor and a fairly lengthy history of electing Democrats to that office, is a pretty pro-gun state. I mean, while Rand Paul and Thomas Massie aren’t exactly as beloved as they were a couple of years ago by most gun owners, they’re both from the state and both solidly pro-gun. But Louisville was always going to be an exception. As a relatively large city, its sensibilities are more akin to those of other large urban centers, as opposed to the more rural parts of the Bluegrass State.And now they’re asking the…
Suppressors weren’t just part of NRA 2026, they dominated the conversation. Walk the floor this year and one thing became clear fast: lighter, quieter, and more versatile is the name of the game. From 3D-printed titanium builds to modular, do-it-all cans, manufacturers are pushing hard into the next generation. Here are some of the standout suppressors that caught our attention. Daniel Defense Goes Lightweight and Purpose-Built Daniel Defense rolled out two new cans that hit very different use cases but both lean hard into weight savings. First up is the Mute 30 Ti, a bolt-gun-focused suppressor built using additive-manufactured titanium.…
U.S. officials pressed Israel and Lebanon for a security deal on Thursday as Washington tried to contain another volatile Middle East front involving Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group whose fight with Israel threatens to pull more American attention into the region. U.S. sources cited tensions rising inside the State Department about four hours after the start of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, according to MTV Lebanon, a Lebanese TV station, on Thursday. A U.S. State Department official later described the daylong talks as “productive and positive,” according to the Associated Press, and said the U.S. looked forward to continuing the discussions on Friday. The…
When you think about where to shop for survival supplies, the dollar store might not be the first place that comes to mind. But you’d be surprised at the treasure trove of useful items you can find there! From tools to help you in an emergency to everyday items that can be repurposed, the dollar store offers a ton of affordable options. In this post, we’ll explore 101 invaluable items you can pick up that could make a big difference in your survival strategy. These essentials aren’t only cost-effective but also incredibly versatile. Want to save this post for later?…
Chilean brand Rokum could have entered the U.S. market with a small line of sleeping bags and sleeping pads. Instead, it went with a rarer approach: combine them together. The Umak — part sleeping bag, part sleeping pad, and part couch — launched on Kickstarter last week. This three-season kit may provide enough use cases to entice summer campers looking for a flexible sleeping system — if not quite those seeking backcountry adventures. The bag’s bulkiness and weight make it an unlikely contender for long-distance backpacking. At $100, it’s a wild but affordable sleep kit. We don’t yet know how…
If you ask most people if a musket or flintlock rifle–yes, they’re different–is a firearm, they’d say it is, and with good reason. It was considered a firearm in its prime, and by most metrics, it still is. However, legally, they’re not. They’re not covered by most gun laws in this country, including things like the prohibition on felons owning firearms. I wouldn’t trust a DA and a jury to see it the same way, mind you, but technically, it sure looks like that’s the way it goes. And at the Associated Press, they were…
You inherited a gun collection, now what? Across the United States, millions of firearms are expected to change hands through inheritance and estate transfers over the coming decade as older generations pass collections on to family members. In many cases, heirs discover firearms in safes, closets, cabinets, or estate storage without knowing: what the firearms are worth whether they are collectible how to legally transfer or sell them where to find buyers how to stay compliant with state and federal laws The good news is that selling inherited firearms legally and safely is easier than many people realize. What Do…
Spring is in the air. The snow is melting in the high country, days are stretching longer, and short sleeves and sandals are emerging from hibernation in the wild. These are sure signs that one of the best times of the year is right around the corner. The days of car camping, backpacking, tent pitching, fire tending, and outdoor cooking are upon us — we’ve been waiting. It’s camping season! Whether you’ve got a stacked calendar of adventures ahead of you or you’re just starting to think about and plan your trips, there’s always a list of things to take…
Financial institutions across the country are weighing proposed legislation in multiple states and territories that would exclude taxes and gratuities from interchange fees on electronic transactions. In Puerto Rico, House Bill 1216 has drawn the attention of the military-focused Defense Credit Union Council, which sent a letter to Puerto Rican legislators expressing concern. “For military families, financial stability is not a side issue; it is part of mission readiness,” said DCUC President, CEO and Retired USAF Colonel Anthony Hernandez, in a statement obtained by Military.com. “Policies that create uncertainty in the payments system or weaken the credit unions serving military…
One of the common objections to the use (and existence) of “red flag” laws is that they miss the mark by targeting an inanimate object and not the owner, even though that person has been deemed by a judge to pose a danger to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection Orders take away someone’s ability to legally purchase and possess firearms, but that doesn’t prevent them from illegally acquiring a gun or using something else to hurt themselves or others… which is exactly what happened over the weekend in Portland, Oregon. Police say a former…
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military on Monday denied claims that Iran struck a Navy vessel as U.S. forces now offer to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began. Tehran over the past two months has attacked some vessels and blocked others that don’t receive its authorization. Iranian news agencies, including the semiofficial Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency, claimed that Iran struck a U.S. vessel near an Iranian port southeast of the strait, accusing it of “violating maritime security and navigation norms.” The reports…
Because of what we do here at Bearing Arms, we see a lot of idiotic proposals for reducing so-called gun deaths. Not all of them are legislative, either. Some are cultural, and those can be especially problematic because we’ve seen the stigmatization of gun ownership already, and nothing about it is right. But my colleague Jeff Charlies over at our sister site, Townhall, stumbled upon what might be one of the most bizarre and ridiculous ideas I’ve ever come across.Columnist Megan McCardle penned an op-ed for The Washington Post in which she suggests a new…
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…
