Mtek Weapon Systems has released they fourth generation maxillofacial protection system which is currently compatible with ACH style helmets. Mtek originally designed their facial armor with the intended use by those in vehicle mounted convoys giving them much need protection against ballistic and explosive threats. The G4 model will meet or exceed the protection level of the ACH helmet to which it is attached and is also capable of defeating a lead core 7.62×39 round at 25 feet. Mtek also boasts that it is the lightest weight facial protection system currently available.

Current color options are black, foliage green, and coyote with an optional multicam cover available for only $19.99. The Predator FAST (Facial Armor SysTem) is less expensive than the recently released Revision Military Battlskin, so the war of the facial armor systems is on. As I noted on the Revision post, these systems although tested for military use will make a fine addition to local law enforcement in the US. With competitive pricing the FAST G4 is a good choice for agencies looking for enhanced protection for their entry teams but on a tighter budget because of the economy.

Here are the stats:

What’s in the box:

•FAST G4

•Versa Mounts (With the new G4 Mask Interface)

•Mounting Bolts

•Instruction Manual

For more information visit Mtekweaponsystems.com

Just a few days ago a friend asked about a magnetic device that sticks on top of the Bullet Button and allows the user to press the magnet to easily drop the magazine. I have reservations about such a device since it is a very grey area between where does the bullet button magazine release end and the magnetic “tool” begin. I also pondered how long it would be before gun control advocates cry foul and make a push to change California firearms laws even more to prohibit even the bullet button itself. Almost as soon as I finished pondering these things, a San Francisco affiliate of CBS News did the report shown above. Regardless of whether innovative individuals create obscure grey area devices such as the magnet shown in the video, the gun control political machine will charge on.

As a gentleman mentioned at the end of the report, why is the bullet button seen as circumventing or going around the California law and not as a tool to bring a firearm into compliance with it?

A few weeks ago Reuters released this poll showing a rather high amount of support for the NRA and right of individuals to purchase firearms for the use of self defense. The poll is somewhat surprising to some, but should it be? For the last few decades firearms have become more and more of a political tool used by politicians of both sides to gain office or remain there, but why is a basic human right guaranteed and reaffirmed by our Constitution such a hot political issue today? Firearms come in all shapes, sizes, calibers and price ranges. Yes, there are firearms that can only be afforded by the “1%”, but there are firearms that can fit the budget of the other “99%”. One of the more universally affordable firearms is the Hi-Point. Many firearm snobs thumb their nose at such a weapon, but they work with surprising reliability and may be the only affordable option for someone who is living on minimum wage and living in a dangerous inner city.

If firearms can be universally owned by law abiding citizens from all financial brackets, then why are they such a dividing issue among us? Who is at fault for dividing the population over this issue? Republicans will point the finger at Democrats saying that they hate firearms and want to take away the right of firearm ownership from the population. If this were true why did so many House and Senate Democratic leaders send a letter to President Obama a few years ago telling him to keep his hands off firearm laws? Also, why would a majority of Democrats have a favorable view of the NRA and firearm ownership? On the opposite side, Democrats blame Republicans for pushing for ever decreasing firearm regulations that may allow criminals to purchase firearms at places like gun shows. Now this doesn’t seem to hold water either when looking at the poll which shows that Republicans, although vastly supporting the NRA, are also split on whether more or less firearm regulations are needed.

In truth, the fault lies not with one side but  both. Both Republicans and Democrats use the firearm issue to alienate their political competitors in their areas so that they can grab votes from certain extreme or just plain misinformed groups. Although, this may make a lot of political sense, it doesn’t serve either side. By making guns a political issue it has only served to divide reasonable people and make us less safe in our homes. Luckily, reasonable people are not political pundits making a living by politicizing one of our universal human rights. The average reasonable person, Republican or Democrat, goes to work, raises a family, and wishes to protect their family from the criminals among us. If baseball bats were the most efficient tool for self defense then maybe we wouldn’t even need firearms, but they are not. The gun is a tool and is an efficient one in the hands of someone who is properly trained and wishes protect themselves when the time arises. As a society we need to be pushing our politicians to back off the firearm issue at large. We have laws that punish those who commit heinous acts. We have laws that prohibit criminals or those with mental disorders from acquiring firearms. We have all the laws needed (and too many that are not) to keep guns out of the wrong hands. It’s time we stop arguing with each other, and start inviting our friends of any political persuasion to a day at the range. If you want to change someone’s mind about firearm ownership, the best way is not politics but a day of safe and friendly target shooting together. Don’t ban guns, ban using guns as political weapons.

Fox News recently published an article on locking up your firearms in the home. Although, I am happy to see such articles on major news sites; the article may bring a lot of confusion to new firearm owners. People buy firearms for a variety of reasons which include; hunting, sport and recreational shooting, and self defense. Although, hunting was the major reason in the past, it has been surpassed in recent years by those looking to defend themselves and their family. With this fully justified and reasonable purpose of firearm ownership, there are some responsibilities that go along with it. Today we will focus on properly securing your firearms in the home.

Lock it Up!

Many firearm owners leave their firearms lying around the house. Some sit in the closet, others under the bed, amd some quite visibly seen on the night stand. Although, this is not illegal if there are no children or minors that can possibly have access to them, it still is not the best idea to just leave your gun sitting in the open. Last week my fathers neighbor was the victim of a burglary, and although he was lucky not to be home at the time, 20 firearms were stolen and are now in the hands of criminals. Most firearms that are used in crimes ranging from robbery to murder, are found to be guns that were stolen from their legal owner. Many of us in the firearm community defend the right of firearm ownership from the onslaught of gun ban extremists by occasionally using this point. So, if we are going to stand by this fact then it is very much our responsibility to mitigate the opportunity of those criminals to take our legally owned firearms and turn them into tools of a darker purpose. How do we do this? Lock them UP! Put them in a safe, secured lockbox (which hopefully is secured to something very heavy. Like the ground), or run cables through them securing them to the wall. A gun in a locked box on your nightstand may keep the kids out, but if it unsecured a criminal can just grab the box and leave with it.

Locked and Loaded

Some of the disagreeable information given in the Fox News article was that a firearm is supposed to be readily available if needed for self defense, but at the same time it must be unloaded and locked in a safe or with a cable lock in the action. Well, this doesn’t make ANY SENSE whatsoever. When your life is on the line and seconds count, you don’t want to be fumbling frantically removing a cable lock, followed by trying to feebly load your firearm to defend yourself. As posted in the picture above, there are many quality products on the market that will secure your LOADED firearm and other valuables, but still allow quick access to them in the case of an emergency. Models vary, but they use a variety of lock mechanisms including: button combinations, key locks, and biometric scanners. The biometric scanners and button combos are probably the easiest to use under stress. The Gun Vault Biometric shown above can save multiple thumbprints so that you or another authorized user in your household can retrieve your firearm if necessary. These models usually come pre-tapped on the bottom side so they can be fixed to your wall, nightstand, bed, or anywhere else you see fit. So, if you are keeping a firearm for home defense: keep it loaded, keep it readily available, but also keep it safe from the access of unauthorized users.

Teaching Others

The final part of the Fox News article I do agree with. As responsible firearm owners it is also our duty to teach and inform our friends that may be new to firearms or those who should know better but don’t. Don’t wait until a friend has been burglarized before telling them how to safely and effectively secure their firearms yet still have them accessible for self defense. Make sure to teach your kids about firearm safety at the youngest age they  are capable (that doesn’t mean giving them unsupervised access). More importantly make sure to be on the same page as your significant other in the home. You can’t always be there to protect your loved ones, so make sure your firearms are properly secured against those who should not have access, but available to those who will need them when the time arises.

For more information on the safe shown in this article visit Gun Vault

Israeli firearms manufacturer, Silver Shadow, will be releasing a new member of its Gilboa line with a double barrel. The Gilboa is a AR-15 based weapon system  that exchanges the buffer tube and spring for a spring mounted above the action and bolt, similar to the ZM Weapons LR-300. This allows a shorter profile for the firearm and the ability to add a side folding stock. The new double barrel AR will be shown off at the Eurosatory 2012 weapons trade show in June. I’ll be interested in seeing better quality pictures and more information about this rifle.

Hat tip to Guns and Coffee

NBC has once again attacked the integrity of Remington and their products. This time around the news company has accused Remington of knowingly selling their shotguns with a trigger mechanism that is “prone to failure”. I think a vast majority of gun owners have at some point owned a Remington model 870 or model using the “Common Fire Control System”. Remington has responded to the NBC claims with the release of the video above. It seems NBC decided to leave out some key information they found while researching their report. The “news” isn’t quite as sensational when all the facts are told.

To learn more visit Respect Remington