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The last time I wrote anything about Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella was early September, when he ended the decade-long suspension of carry licenses and encouraged residents to legally protect themselves.  Like Mexico, Colombia has pretty restrictive gun laws and a powerful criminal element who ignores them with impunity, while average citizens are largely helpless unless they too are willing to break the law. Now De La Espriella is sending a message to narcoterrorists and lawful citizens alike. A group calling itself the Conquering Self Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada has laid siege to…

An investigation remains ongoing after a dead body was found in a burned vehicle earlier this week on Eglin Air Force Base in northwest Florida. A 96th Security Forces patrol discovered the vehicle at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday on Range Road 234 at Lewis Turner Boulevard, on the base in Florida’s Panhandle, according to a press release issued by the base. As of Friday afternoon, more than two days later, officials had not released the person’s identity, whether they were connected to the military, or how they died. In its statement, Eglin said the next-of-kin notification process was underway and…

Military life comes with a steady paycheck, but it also comes with obstacles such as moves and deployments, which can make your budget feel like it’s always playing catch-up. The good news is that you don’t need a windfall to build real financial security. Small, repeatable habits can compound into thousands of dollars saved over time. Here are 10 practical military savings tips, a habit tracker to stay consistent, and answers to the questions military families ask most. 1. Automate Your Savings Before You Can Spend It Set up an automatic transfer into your savings account on payday, before the…

Despite the rhetoric from anti-gunners, we pro-Second Amendment types aren’t interested in seeing violent crime rates do anything but plummet, if for no other reason than it’s harder to make the case for gun control. It’s not the only reason, obviously, but it sure doesn’t hurt. No, many of us, including myself, have advocated for non-gun control interventions. We need to understand violent crime and precisely why it happens, then address those causes.According to the University of Michigan, a program in Detroit did just that.An analysis by the University of Michigan shows a sharp drop…

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance, known as VALife, operates on a simpler eligibility standard than almost any other VA benefit: Any service-connected disability rating qualifies — even a 0% rating — with no medical exam and no possibility of denial based on health, according to VA.gov. What It Offers Launched Jan. 1, 2023, VALife provides guaranteed-acceptance whole life insurance coverage of up to $40,000, available in $10,000 increments. Guaranteed acceptance means that if a veteran meets the basic eligibility requirements, VA automatically approves the application without requiring proof of good health. As whole life coverage, the policy lasts for the rest…

It’s odd for me to find myself nodding in agreement with a headline at Ms. magazine, especially when guns are the topic. But when I saw “A Restraining Order Is Not Enough When an Abuser Has a Gun,” my first reaction was “you’re darn right it’s not enough.” Unfortunately, once I started reading the column by Sofia Little, my head nodding turned into head scratching pretty quickly. Little and I are on the same page when it comes to the practical limits of protective orders. We disagree, though, on what the remedy for that looks like. A…

Fifty U.S. troops assisted Ecuadorian officials in arresting more than 30 members of a Mexican drug cartel. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. troops participated in an early-morning operation on Thursday to arrest members of a branch of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Ecuadoran Interior Minister John Reimberg wrote on X. Around 70% of the world’s cocaine passes through Ecuadorian ports, according to the Congressional Research Service. This trade is worth an estimated $30 billion a year, according to Ecaudorian President Daniel Noboa. Around 320 Ecuadoran police officers and 50 personnel from U.S. Southern Command took part in the…

Dental insurance isn’t something most people think about… until a surprise $3,000 bill for a root canal hits their bank account. If you are a military retiree, federal employee, or military family member navigating the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) for the first time, choosing the wrong policy can turn a routine dentist visit into a financial nightmare. Your annual window to lock in coverage is limited. For 2027 coverage, open enrollment begins November 9, 2026, and closes strictly at midnight Eastern Time on December 7, 2026. Miss that deadline, and you could be locked out of…

When you’re considering buying a home using your VA home loan benefit, one of the first questions you want answered is “How much can I qualify for?” VA loans are guaranteed, meaning any loan that the VA-approved lender approves, has a government-backed guarantee of 25% of the loan amount. As long as the lender follows established VA lending guidelines, the guarantee is in place. The VA doesn’t approve the loan but establishes specific rules that lenders must follow in order to receive the VA guarantee. One of those rules limits how much you can borrow based on a formula called…

The Supreme Court has directed New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to respond to a cert petition filed by Defense Distributed and Second Amendment Foundation in a case that could result in a major First Amendment ruling.  There are a couple of issues presented in the cert petition. The first deals with the convoluted path the lawsuit has traveled. The lawsuit began in Texas but was transferred to New Jersey, and now the Fifth Circuit and Third Circuit split over whether it should go back to its original Texas court.The second issue, and the one…

Every year, tens of thousands of young Americans stand at a pivotal crossroads, weighing whether military service is the right path for their future. Enlisting offers extraordinary opportunities; unrivaled professional development, full college tuition assistance, comprehensive healthcare, and a sense of purpose that few civilian careers can replicate. However, military service is not just another job; it is a profound lifestyle shift that demands discipline, resilience, and personal commitment. To ensure your military experience becomes a foundation for lifelong growth and success, preparation must begin long before you sign an enlistment contract or step foot onto a base. Preparing for…