This Site & Its Logo - Common Sense - Basic Concepts - Firearm Safety - Street vs. Range
Handgun Selection - Holster Selection - Ammunition Selection - Long Gun Selection - Instructor Selection
Role of the Wrist - Point Shooting - Shooting with Flashlights - Night Sights and Lasers - The Naked Emperor
Deadly Force - A Winning Attitude - Just Say Nothing? - S.P. Wenger Credentials - Useful Links
Favorite Quotations on the RKBA, politics and life in general

USEFUL
LINKS

Links are furnished in good faith but I can assume no responsibility for the
content of linked websites or for products and services which they may advertise.

Please let me know if you find any of these links to be outdated.

Sources of Training	Other Points of View	Keep and Bear Arms
Guns & Ammo Stuff	Legal Stuff	Concealed Carry
Organizations	*** * * * ***	Products of Interest

Training

I have explained elsewhere my decision to stop offering live training in the defensive use of firearms. Inasmuch as the system I developed was the product of a critical examination of all the training I took from numerous sources, I cannot expect that any one of the sources linked below would provide complete training. I urge you to use the information on this website and in my book to evaluate any training you are contemplating or may already have taken.

I have listed these schools or trainers in alphabetical order, rather than in any other sort of priority. In most cases, I have no personal knowledge of their programs but am simply sharing recommendations from sources I consider trustworthy. (I do wonder why some instructors will not teach private citizens the same things they teach cops.)

Active Response Training
Based in Columbus OH, Greg Ellifritz does some traveling; he offers a wide range of training including some valuable material beyond the usual gun stuff; of note, he no longer offers specific courses to police and security personnel
Agile Training & Consulting
Based in Topeka KS, founder Chuck Haggard is assisted by a cadre that travel nationwide; it is one of those schools that divides its courses into military, police, security and personal-defense offerings
American Firearms Training & Tactics
Based in Prescott Valley AZ, Mark Fricke does some traveling; he offers the whole gamut, from courses oriented toward the private citizen to tactical team training and NRA-LEAD instructor schools
BullsEye Tactical Firearms Training
Located in Shasta County CA, Chris Ewens provides street-relevant training for handgun, rifle and shotgun, including California LTC courses accepted by several northern California sheriffs
Defense Training International, Inc.
Based in La Porte CO, John Farnam is a traveling instructor; he is pretty insistent on his "method" but is known for some interesting exercises and his emphasis on mental conditioning
Firearms Academy of Seattle
Actually located in Onalaska WA, Marty Hayes, his staff and guest instructors offer several levels of training in the use of handgun, shotgun, rifle and related disciplines, including weapon retention and emergency trauma treatment
FPF Training
Based in Culpepper VA, John Murphy, his assistants and guest instructors provide a variety of courses in northern Virginia and around the country, including for armed parents and in tactics for couples
Handgun Combatives
Based in Dayton OH, Dave Spaulding also travels to other locations; his specialization in the use of the autoloading pistol reflects his SWAT years but he is also known for his emphasis on "software"
Hardwired Tactical Shooting
Based in the Dallas TX area, this school offers handgun, shotgun and rifle courses; however, the rifle courses seem to be among the offerings limited to law-enforcement personnel
I.C.E. Training
Based in Virginia Beach VA, Rob Pincus and his associates offer training at many locations; I know him for his Combat Focus Shooting system, which seems to share a lot with what I used to teach
Insights Training Center
Based in Bellevue WA, Greg Hamilton and his staff and guest instructors offer a wide variety of training, albeit with different offerings for private citizens, police and military personnel
KR Training
With a primary range in Lee County TX, this school has both male and female instructors who also offer training at other locations; offerings concentrate on handgun training at various levels
Marksmanship Consultants
Located in La Center WA, a short distance across the river from Portland OR, Gary Crane differs from most of the other instructors listed here in that his primary emphasis is on improving handgun marksmanship
Massad Ayoob Group
Based in Live Oak FL, Massad Ayoob is a traveling instructor; I believe the most bang for the buck you can get from him is his MAG-20/Classroom - Armed Citizens' Rules of Engagement course
MN Pistol Class
Located in Circle Pines MN, Craig Brownell offers both a basic handgun course to qualify for a carry permit in several states and LEOSA certification for retired peace officers living in Minnesota
Personal Security Institue
Based in Salem OR, Grant Cunningham is a traveling instructor who offers training emphasizing his own insights into the operation of the double-action revolver as well as with pistols and rifles
Practical Firearms Training
Located near Alderson WV, Pat Goodale is recommended to me as providing quality instruction in all of his courses; while he has a range complex of his own, he also appears to travel to other locations
RangeMaster
Based in Memphis TN, Tom Givens and his associates offer what they describe as advanced training, around the US and abroad, including an annual tactical "conference" in Memphis
Rogers Shooting School
Located near Ellijay GA, Bill Rogers and his assistants emphasize quick-reaction shooting on briefly exposed targets with half of the handgun work done one-handed; training is also offered with rifle, shotgun and submachine gun
Sand Burr Gun Ranch
Located in North Rochester IN, Ashley Reichard Gibbons continues the specialization in revolver training for which her late father Denny Reichard was famed; I've never seen Ashley shoot but I've watched Denny fire a .44 Magnum in each hand as easily as others shoot .38's
Shootrite Firearms Academy
Located in Langston AL, Tiger McKee apparently worked for Clint Smith (not one of my favorite instructors); however, I have been very impressed with his articles, in terms of tactics
Tactical Defense Institute
Located in West Union OH, I have received some non-specific favorable comments about the quality of TDI training, whose offerings include force-on-force and low-light applications
Trident Concepts
Based in Cedar Park TX, Jeff Gonzalez is a traveling instructor providing vigorous SEAL-style training with handgun and carbine as well as a Concealed Carry Tactics course
Viking Tactics
Kyle Lamb is a traveling instructor, recommended to me as providing excellent advanced-level training in the use of the semiautomatic carbine, such as the AR-15 and its variants

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Other Points of View

Left of Bang
Learn how to recognize, build and fine-tune your gut feelings in order to avoid or prevail in violent incidents
How to Spot a Bad Guy - A Comprehensive Look at Body Language and Pre-Assault Indicators
Greg Ellifritz isn't kidding when he refers to this article - which includes a section on not looking like a victim - as a comprehensive look
Mental Preparation for Self Defense - an Interview with Tom Givens
Tom has literally had a few dozen of his students prevail in gunfights on the streets of Memphis; his words on avoiding and prevailing in fights merit reading
Resistance to Violent Crime - What Does the Research Show?
Greg Ellifritz reviews a great deal of research on the likely outcomes of resistance to help plan responses to different scenarios
The Telephone Game and the Training Industry
A useful reminder from "tactical professor" Claude Werner that not all "facts" stated by firearms instructors are stated factually
Hi Powers and Handguns
Views on Browning Hi Powers and Other Handguns, along with some answers to FAQ's, from the late Stephen Camp
A Human Right
Oleg Volk's site offers well-reasoned thought and outstanding, poster-quality illustrations
The Handgun Qualification Trap
A thought-provoking article by Thomas Aveni on several aspects of "qualification" versus training
Training Scars
Greg Ellifritz discusses some of the unrealistic things commonly done in training that could prove harmful on the street
Snubby Tactics from the Snubnose Files
A variety of articles, not limited to tactics, on the defensive use of the short-barrel revolver.
Rate Your Risk
Available online again, here is a group of questionnaires to help you reduce the risk of becoming a victim
Body Language and Pre-Assault Indicators
Greg Ellifritz offers a comprehensive discussion not only of how to recognize criminals before they attack but also how to avoid looking like a good victim
Beneath the Radar
Ed Lovette - whose past includes duty as both an operative and a trainer for the CIA - talks about minimizing your risk of becoming a victim
Women Against Gun Control
Offers a variety of opinions and information about defensive firearms for women
Women & Guns
One more source of firearms information oriented toward women
Cornered Cat
"No one in her right mind fights for the sake of fighting. But if you have to defend yourself, it's good to have sharp claws."
How to Make Your Wife Hate Guns
Cornered Cat offers some "don't do" advice for male gun owners with female life partners
Defense Training International for Women
I'm not persuaded that the "Farnam Method" is the panacea but this site may offer some useful resources to female shooters and to those who teach them
Marc MacYoung's No-Nonsense Self-Defense Web Page
An extensive reference to self-defense at various levels, from avoidance to lethal force
A Nation of Cowards
Jeffrey Snyder's landmark essay about why we are in the predicament we find ourselves
Born to Intervene?
If you're one of those people who will not stand by or leave the scene, here are some factors to consider in advance
Jeff Cooper's Commentaries
Years of opinion from the man who gave us the four basic rules of firearm safety and the color code of preparedness

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Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Gun Facts
Gun Facts is a free 112-page e-book that debunks common myths about "gun control" with a large number of documented facts to counter them
Conservative Defense of the Second Amendment Falls Short
This scholarly article opens with the failure of the courts to protect the RKBA; in detailing several key issues, it introduces several of the topics linked below
Crime Prevention Research Center
John Lott - who shifted the concealed-carry debate with his book More Guns, Less Crime - now conducts his research under the aegis of the CPRC
Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States
The 2020 annual CPRC report shows that he number of permittees has climbed to 19.48 million, with substantial increases among women and non-whites
61 Statistics Describing U.S. Gun Owners, Demographics, Concealed Carry, and More
A mid-2020 look at who owns what guns and why in the United States
Debunking That Fraudulent Mass-Shooting Study
John Lott presents a 451-page counter to a 2106 paper claiming that the US experiences a disproportionate amount of the world's mass public shootings
More Details on That Fraudulent Mass-Shooting Study
John Lott uncovers more deception as some of Lankford's database is revealed
Debunking That Fraudulent Police-Death Study
John Lott debunks a "public health" study linking felonious deaths of police officers to increased rates of private gun ownership
Smart Guns & Police
John Lott points out some of the major risks of encumbering any gun intended for protection with "smart-gun" technology
Why FBI Statistics Are a Deceptive Measure of Defensive Gun Use
The methods by which these numbers are gathered makes them gross undercounts of the actual legal, defensive homicides by citizens
Gun Sales Up, Crime Rates Down
This infographic shows the falling rates of homicides and other crimes committed with guns as well as of unintentional gun-related fatalities
Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics
Reason magazine's Brian Doherty unmasks the flaws in several "studies" that have attacked the RKBA
How to Spot Misleading Statistics in the Gun Control Debate
Tim Hsiao convincingly argues that we need to focus on studies of how defensive gun use helps victims resist crime, not whether gun ownership reduces it
No, These Three Laws Will Not Reduce "Gun Deaths" by 90%
Brian Doherty deconstructs a "study" that claimed that just three federal laws would reduce the death rate involving firearms in the US by more than 90%
No, Right to Carry Does Not Increase Violent Crime
John Lott debunks a "study" claiming that recognizing the right to carry a firearm outside the home boosts the rates of violent crime
"10 Myths About Guns"
Sen. Chuck Grassley debunks ten claims made by President Obama in his January 7, 2016 "town hall" pitch for more infringement of the RKBA
Mapping "Gun Violence" in the US
This article and its maps emphasize that 26% of US gun-related homicides in 2015 occurred in neighborhoods that house only 1.5% of the population
Defensive Gun Uses in the U.S.
The Heritage Foundation has created an interactive map of documented DGU's that allows filtering by various categories
The Reality of American Violence
A close examination of American violence reveals that it has little relationship to guns or gun policy
Background Checks Are Not the Answer to Gun Violence
John Lott points out that the real fix required for NICS is to keep it from stopping millions of law-abiding citizens from buying guns for protection
"Red Flag" Laws Do Not Save Lives
Among the findings of Lott and Moody, red flag laws had no significant effect on murder, suicide and, the number of people killed in mass public shootings
No, "Red Flag" Laws Do Not Really Offer Due Process
Jacob Sullum shows how the states with "red flag" laws fail to protect the constitutional rights of gun owners
"Red Flag" Laws Leave Gun Owners Defenseless
Jacob Sullum continues his exposure of how "red flag" laws deny due process - and produce very questionable results
Psychiatry, Background Checks and "Red Flag" Laws Can't Identify Future Mass Shooters
If "the notion that we can identify mass killers before they act" is a "fiction," the conventional policy responses to mass shootings are unlikely to be effective
Profiling an Active Killer
Ron Borsch lists ten characteristics that may help identify in advance someone planning what he calls a Rapid Mass Murder
Sources and Use of Firearms Involved in Crimes
A 2016 survey of prison inmates shows that only 10% of those who used guns in their crimes purchased them at retail outlets and only 0.8% at gun shows
Why Gun Owners Lie to Pollsters
Before accepting survey claims that the number of gun owners in the US has fallen, how many people will report gun ownership to an unknown caller?
Ask the Right Questions
Dennis Prager offers a useful discussion of the cultural changes in the US over the last few decades that have led to an increase in mass murders
Schools That Allow Teachers to Carry Are Extremely Safe
Twenty years of data from 20 states - no one shot during school hours, no attempted "mass shootings"
The Case for Expanding Campus Gun Carry
This article effectively counters many of the customary arguments against allowing otherwise lawful carry on college and university campuses
An Analysis of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
In light of the drive to repeal this crucial federal law, David Kopel provides a useful summary of why we have it, why we need it and what it actually does
The Hearing Protection Act and "Silencers"
David Kopel provides an extensive analysis of what suppressors do and don't do, their miniscule involvement in crime and of the effects of the HPA
A Primer on Suppressors
The folks at Ammunition to Go provide an excellent primer on suppressors, complete with decibel ratings for various guns and loads
Position Paper in Favor of Firearm Suppressors to Prevent Hearing Loss
Medical specialists discuss the mechanics of sound-related hearing loss and the realities of suppressors, in support of the 2017 Hearing Protection Act
The Myth of Readily Converted to Full Auto
Current federal law already treats any firearm readily converted to full-auto - and the parts to do so - the same as a machine gun
A Pediatrician Explains the AR-15
This explanation of the AR-15 and its often maligned features may be a good article to share with those who are confused by the persistent drive to ban it
The Truth About Australia's Gun Control Experiment
An Australian Liberal Democratic Senator argues that no scientific study has shown that Australia's gun laws have reduced either homicide or suicide rates
Did Australia�s Ban on Semiauto Firearms Really Reduce Violence?
Gary Kleck examines the data from a large 2016 study touting the success of the ban and concludes that it did not
Firearms, Violence, and the Second Amendment
Resources useful in the defense of the right to keep and bear arms, including against claims of the prevention of "gun violence"
The Unabridged Second Amendment
J. Neil Schulman interviews an expert on American English usage on the wording of the Second Amendment
Firearms Technology and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment
David Kopel debunks the claim that Amendment II was only intended to cover single-shot muzzleloaders and reviews the history of repeating firearms
The First Civil Right - To Keep and Bear Arms
In the run-up to the 2016 elctions, The Patriot Post provides a thoughtful look at the RKBA and the war on it by today's left
The Stopwatch of Death
Tom Gresham provides a very cogent discussion of why armed citizens are the best defense in mass-shooting incidents
What Is a "Mass Shooting"?
As the number of crimes committed with firearms in the US continues its decline, "mass shooting" is redefined, to boost the numbers
No, the US Is Not the Only Country with Mass Shootings
And when the numbers are adjusted for population, they're even more remarkable
Most Mass Shootings Occur Outside the US
John Lott debunks that claim that the US is the only nation to experience mass-shooting incidents.
Black Swans, Shark Attacks and Mass Shootings - Too Rare to Drive Public Policy
Matthew Larosiere documents how small the odds are for Americans to die in mass shootings, compared to the more common causes of premature death
Questionable Anti-Gun Statisitcs
This op-ed piece starts by examining why the National Crime Victimization Survey is a faulty measure of the rate of defensive gun use
20+ Years of FBI Data - "Assault Weapons" and Criminal Homicides
The percentage of criminal homicides with rifles has fallen since the end of the federal "assault weapon" ban and the surge in sales of AR-15's
"Assault Weapons," Explained
A history of the "assault weapon" scam is coupled with an analysis of why banning them fails to enhance public safety but move us closer to broader bans
Saved by a Good Person with a Gun
Eleven documented cases where someone with a gun intervened in a mass shooting or an attempt at one
Interactive Map - A Year of Gun "Saves"
At least 238 people saved by armed citizens in 195 randomly selected incidents, between July 2014 and July 2015
The Racist Roots of Gun Control
A detailed historical analysis by Clayton Cramer; if we could only get the current crop of "liberals" to read it!
The Racist Origins of California's Concealed Weapon Permit Law
Cramer and Joseph Olson trace the absence of an RKBA provision California's constitution through three generations of concealed-weapon statutes
A History of State Gun Control Laws
A lengthy history of state-level laws dating from the Colonial era through 2019
Laws Designed to Disarm Slaves, Freedmen and African-Americans
In tabular form, this page presents a chronology of laws, from 1640 to 1995, intended to disarm blacks in the US
Modern Democrats Want to Disarm Black Americans
John Lott shows how the infringements proposed by Hillary Clinton and others will have the most adverse impact on low-income black Americans
Clayton Cramer's Home Page
Among his work, Cramer thoroughly debunked Bellesiles' book Arming America with his own book, Armed America
Should We Treat Guns Like Cars?
Some observations by David Kopel - if the government truly treated guns like cars many of us might be better off
How About Treating Cars Like Guns?
After the July 14, 2016 massacre with a truck in France, a look at what would eventually happen if France treated motor vehicles as it treats guns
Lists of Vehicular Attacks
Wikipedia offers a set of chronological lists of vehicle-ramming attacks, breaking them down by whether they had a definite link to terrorism
Gun vs. Traffic Accident Deaths: Getting the Data Straight
Debunking the claims that safety mandates have reduced traffic-related deaths to the level of gun-related deaths and would further reduce the latter
A Modest Proposal
If the publication and sale of books were treated like the manufacture and sale of firearms...
Anti-Gun, Anti-Science
More from David Kopel, exposing the statistical lies about firearm ownership increasing your chance of being murdered
The Costs and Consequences of Gun Control
David Kopel favors improving access to mental care and removing impediments to lawful self-defense and defense of others
David Kopel's Home Page
A portal to the extensive publications of a leading scholar of the right to keep and bear arms
Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide?
Don Kates and Gary Mauser present a Review of International and Some Domestic Evidence
The Phony "Public-Health Crisis" of Gun Violence
Vik Khanna critically dissects a crop of early 2017 "medical" articles intended to erode the RKBA
Metal and Wood
A stirring essay about the meaning of gun ownership
What Good Can a Handgun Do Against an Army?
A response to those who argue that private ownership of firearms is no longer a viable defense against tyranny
Mass Shootings - by Governments
In this historical review, David Kopel asks if victim resistance is futile, why does rigorous disarmament almost always precede the killings?
Gun Control Puts Your Life at Risk
David Kopel shows that, in the 20th century, far more people were murdered by genocidal governments than by armed criminals
"Gun Control" Is Bigotry
A 1994 speech by civil-rights attorney Don Kates
A Brief History of British "Gun Control"
An amazing summary of how a century of "reasonable regulation" has virtually abolished the rights of Englishmen to keep and bear arms
Firearms in Russia
An overview of Russian firearm laws and of the history of firearms in Russia
Eleanor Roosevelt, Pistol-Packin' Momma
One of the most outspoken liberals of her time chose to rely on her own handgun in a hostile environment.
H.L. Mencken on Firearm Prohibition
In a 1925 commentary, the "Sage of Baltimore" exposes the folly of a call to ban interstate traffic in revolvers
- The 1927 Mailing of Arms Act
  Clayton Cramer points out the racial argument for the ban on shipping handguns via US mail
- The Full Transcript of the Hearings for the National Firearms Act of 1934
  The NFA imposed a prohibitive tax and cumbersome registration process on machine guns, short-barrel rifles and shotguns, and suppressors
- Federal Firearms Act of 1938
  In 1938, Congress enacted this bill, regulating the interstate tranfer of handguns; it was amended to become the Gun Control Act of 1968
GunCite
A thoughtful collection of essays and links on the Second Amendment and the "gun control" scam
The Parable of the Sheep
A great essay about the minority of sheep who refuse to be food for the wolves
The RKBA Challenge
Great idea! Take one person to the range each month and introduce them to firearm safety, competence and freedom
What We Should Say
John Ross, author of Unintended Consequences, on what we should say when discussing the RKBA
Gun Polls
Summaries of polls on firearms and the right to keep and bear arms, including changes over time
The Rifle on the Wall: A Left Argument for Gun Rights
A lengthy essay that may provide some useful arguments when you discuss the RKBA with left-leaning friends and relatives
A Glossary of How the Left Uses Firearm Terms
A listing of how words and terms that many would consider straightforward have been redefined in the arguments to erode the RKBA
An Illustrated Guide...
...to why gun owners cannot accept "reasonable" compromise
Cold Weather Causes Murder
Mimicking the "science" that the left uses to attack the RKBA, this comparison of Chicago and Houston blames weather for the difference in murder rates
The Smith & Wesson Cam
A disgruntled Smith & Wesson owner donates his revolver to science; check and see if guns really do cause crime
Assault Weapon Watch
Check and see if the end to the federal ban on "assault weapons" is creating a crime wave
Reasonable Regulation of Swimming Pools
Drowning is the leading cause of injury death among children aged 1�4 years; should we regulate swimming pools the way the left wants to regulate guns?
Don�t Feed The Gun Prohibitionists!
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms offers a list of businesses known to oppose that right
White Mountain Citizens for Safer Dining
A project to persuade restaurateurs who serve alcohol in Arizona's White Mountains not to post "No Firearms;" restaurants in both categories are listed
Businesses That Ban Guns in Texas
With the advent of licensed open carry, more businesses in Texas are banning not only open carry but also discreet carry

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Assorted Guns and Ammo Stuff

CorBon/Glaser
Conventional hollowpoints at +P velocities, Pow'RBall, DPX loads, Glaser Safety Slugs and more
Federal Cartridge Company
The "big three" tend to revise their sites periodically and may present challenges to finding information about specific loads
Hornady Ammunition
Once limited largely to sporting ammunition, Hornady now offers Critical Duty and Critical Defense handgun loads (click the Law Enforcement tab)
Remington Ammunition
Remington's ammunition lines must now be selected under the Products menu - at the top of the page - for the entire Remington site
Speer Ammunition
Offerings include the Gold Dot line, with some loads specifically designed for short barrels
Winchester Ammunition
The "big three" tend to revise their sites periodically and may present challenges to finding information about specific loads
Ammo Seek
Free search engine finds the ammunition you seek online and compares prices
Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques
The second edition of Dr. Vincent DiMaio's classic text is now available online, at no charge
Beware of Bullet Testing in Synthetic Gelatin
The number of people testing and posting bullet performance has expanded with the introduction of synthetic gelatin; it is not equivalent to to the FBI gelatin
Firearms Tutorial for Forensic Education
Numerous topics are summarized, with references, including ballistics, patterns of tissue injury and criminalistics laboratory methods
FAQ's from the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute
SAAMI is the source of voluntary standards for American guns and ammo and provides a wide variety of information in these 22 pages
Exploded Firearms Drawings
Useful references for reassembling your gun or ordering parts, posted by Urban Armory
Exploded Firearm Drawings, Alternate Site
Steve has posted an extensive collection of these useful drawings and parts lists
Firearm Manuals
Steve also offers a wide variety of manuals for firearms, in PDF format
Guide to Smokeless Powder
A useful introduction to smokeless powder for those who want to reload ammunition
Lubrication 101
Gun oil, snake oil and how to tell the difference - a useful tutorial with some good recommendations from Grant Cunningham
Guns & Shooting Online
Chuck Hawks presents a wide selection of articles on general firearms information and specific types of firearms
Where to Shoot
A database of places to shoot from the NSSF
The Aging Defender
Joseph Logar offers a variety of suggestions to aging shooters on coping with diminishing vision and grip strength and arthritis
You Just Might Be a Gun Nut ...
A collection of humorous reality checks in the style of a well known comedian

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Legal Stuff

Handgunlaw.us
A database of laws and related information pertaining to the carry of firearms with linked references
Useful Maps
OpenCarry.org has summarized several sets of firearms laws in the form of maps; click the Maps tab for maps or State Info for text
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The BATFE website has again been reorganized and is not user-friendly; this Firearms Industry page is probably the best starting point
State Laws and Published Ordinances - Firearms
BATFE's database of state laws and local ordinances that may affect the sale and possession of firearms and ammunition
AR-15 Variants and the NFA
This 2016 chart may help avoid some of the legal pitfalls of playing mix-and-match with AR components
VFGs, AOWs, PSBs and SBRs: A Return To Understanding The NFA
A 2019 update on vertical foregrips, Any Other Weapons, pistol-stabilizing braces and short-barrel rifles
State Constitutional RKBA Provisions by Date
Constitutional right-to-keep-and-bear-arms provisions from those states that have them, listed in the order of adoption and amendment
Bloomfield Press
Publisher of layman's guides to federal and state gun laws; check the Updates and Position Papers and search links
RKBA Timeline
A partial time line, primarily of laws and court rulings which have progressively infringed the right to keep and bear arms
Supreme Court Gun Cases, Summarized
A summary of 96 cases, including Heller and McDonald, in which the U.S. Supreme Court discussed firearms or self-defense
Second Amendment Doctrines in the Federal Circuits
A study of the contrasts and commonalities in the interpretation of the RKBA among the Circuit Courts of Appeal
US Knife Laws
Knife laws are often more confusing and, apparently, harder to keep track of than gun laws; I recommend verifying current statutes and ordinances
Some Free Legal Advice
Arizona attorney Marc Victor offers some advice for those who choose to go armed
What to Do if You're Stopped by Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI
The ACLU offers a printable "bust card," formatted to fold to pocket size
California Concealed Weapon Laws Explained
A useful summary from Shouse Law Group - a firm that has several experts in California gun laws

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Concealed Carry

For convenience, I have provided links to various state agencies that address CCW licensure but several states issue their permits at the municipal or county level. Handgunlaw.us lists most laws and related information governing CCW in the various states and territories, with linked references.

CCW Legislation Progress
This animated map shows the progress of shall-issue CCW laws from 1986 to the present
Percentage of Adults Licensed to Carry by State
These maps and graphs show the percentage of adults licensed to carry in each state and the trends from 2013 to 2018
Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act
NRA's Institute for Legisative Action offers a host of resources involving this law and program
FOP's LEOSA FAQ's
The Fraternal Order of Police offers one more set of FAQ's on the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act
Concealed Carry Statistics
This page presents national and state figures for permits/licenses to carry, along with some supplementary data.
Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit
While Alaska no longer requires permits, they are still available for those who want recognition in the lower 48 states
Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit
Arizona Department of Public Safety's official CWP information page
Arkansas Concealed Handgun License
Arkansas State Police's official concealed handgun licensing page
California License to Carry Concealed Pistol, Revolver, or Other Firearm
California licenses are issued by local sheriffs or chiefs of police; these FAQ's from The Calguns Foundation are a good starting point
Colorado Concealed Weapon Permit
Colorado CWP's are issued by sheriffs but the Colorado Bureau of Investigation provides access to the relevant statutes
Connecticut Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers
State Police issue state permits after residents receive a local temporary permit; non-residents may apply directly
Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License
Florida Department of State's official CWFL information page
Idaho Concealed Weapons Licenses
Both standard and enhanced licenses are issued by sheriffs but this page from the AG's office offers information
Illinois Concealed Carry Licensing
Illinois State Police's official CCL information site
Kansas Concealed Carry Handgun License
Kansas Attorney General's Concealed Weapon documents page
Kentucky Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons License
Kentucky State Police's primary CCDW page requires an account login so I've linked the FAQ's
Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit
Louisiana State Police's official CHP page information page
Maine Concealed Firearms Permit
Residents generally apply locally; non-residents apply to the Maine State Police
Maryland Handgun Wear and Carry Permit
Permits are issued by the Maryland State Police, very rarely
Massachusetts License To Carry
Application forms for resident and non-resident LTC's are available online
Michigan Concealed Pistol License
Licenses are issued at the county level but the Michigan Sate Police provide information and applications
Minnesota Permit To Carry a Pistol
Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offers information, permits are issued by the state's sheriffs
Mississippi Firearm Permit
Mississippi Highway Patrol's Firearm Permit Unit posts information and applications
Montana Concealed Weapons Permit
Montana Department of Justice's concealed carry information page
Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit
Nebraska State Patrol's Concealed Handgun Permit FAQ's
New Hampshire Pistol & Revolver License
Applications for Pistol/Revolver Licenses can be downloaded from the State Police website
New Mexico Concealed Handgun License
New Mexico Department of Public Safety's official CHL information page
North Dakota Concealed Weapon Permit
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations official CWP information page
Ohio License to Carry a Concealed Handgun
Ohio CHL's are issued by sheriffs but the Ohio Attorney General posts application forms and related information
Oklahoma Handgun License
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's official Handgun License information page
Pennsylvania License to Carry
Pennsylvania LTC's are issued by sheriffs or the police department in Philadelphia but the state police answer several questions about them
South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's CWP Program
South Dakota Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol
Applications and temporary permits are provided by sheriffs, five-year permits are issued by the Secretary of State
Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit
Tennessee's Department of Safety and Homeland Security issues that state's permits
Texas License to Carry a Handgun
Texas Department of Public Safety's official web posting
Utah Concealed Firearm Permit
Utah's Bureau of Criminal Identification's official CFP information and application page
Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit
Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center lists statutes, procedures and provides application forms
West Virginia Concealed Pistol/Revolver License
Licenses are issued by sheriffs but the application can be downloaded from the State Police website.
Wisconsin Concealed Carry Site
Wisconsin's Department of Justice's portal for licensing for discreet carry
Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit
Wyoming CFP's are issued by sheriffs but the Division of Criminal Investigation posts FAQ's

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Organizations

National Rifle Association
Beset with internal strife and worse, NRA is still the 800-pound gorilla lobbying for the RKBA and a major source for training
Save the Second
This organization is currently pushing five goals to reform and rescue the embattled NRA
The Firearms Coalition
Founded by the late Neal Knox, the Hard Corps offers opposition to the current NRA bureaucracy
Help Save the NRA
This is a project of David Dell'Aquila, whose program includes the retirement and replacement of NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre
Gun Owners of America
An organization for gun owners who want no compromise
Second Amendment Foundation
SAF is currently leading the battle in the courts to re-establish the right to keep and bear arms, both at national and state levels
Firearms Policy Coalition
Californa-based FPC has been extending its litigation for the RKBA across the nation, sometimes as the primary plaintiff
NFA Freedom Alliance
NFAFA lobbies at state and federal levels to ease restriction of the items currently regulated by the National Firearms Act
Arizona Citizens Defense League
A grassroots organization whose accomplishments include the restoration of "constitutional carry" - no permit required - in Arizona
Calguns Foundation
Finally! Here's an organization that's finally making some progress against the refusal of many California sheriffs to issue carry permits
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
A hard-line, educational organization with some fascinating information
National African American Gun Association
Formed to encourage responsible gun ownership, NAG [sic] is particularly interested in recruiting those with law-enforcement and military backgrounds
Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership
Medical professionals fighting the myth that guns are a public health problem
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus
This is the national organization of students and other concerned citizens seeking the recognition of the right to remain armed on college campuses
Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network
Even if you choose not to join this legal-assistance group, they give free access to the archive of their journals - very useful articles
American Suppressor Association
Even if you don't currently own a suppressor, you may want to help ASA support your right to do so, particularly without all the NFA hurdles
SG² - Snub Gun Study Group
This informal collaboration of revolver enthusiasts offers free downloads of digital copies of its magazine and other revolver documents

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Products of Possible Interest

TangoDown
In addition to the best magazines for AR-type rifles, TangoDown offers other accessories for AR and SCAR rifles, Glocks and some other pistols
Striker Control Device for Glock Pistols
This replacement for the slide cover plate allows the user to prevent movement of the striker - and unintended discharges - while holstering
Cominolli Thumb Safety for Glock Pistols
Mounting only on the left side, installation of this safety requires a small cut in the frame; suitable through Gen4 models
Lone Wolf Carry Package Trigger Kit for Glock Pistols
The NY1 trigger spring with a 3.5-pound connector gives a more palpable take-up phase with no increased resistance at let-off (not for G42, G43, Gen5)
DryFireMag
For dry-fire training with striker-fired pistols without the need to rack the slide between trigger strokes; some models are much longer than the magazine wells
Tyler T-Grip Adapters for Revolvers
Tyler Manufacturing still offers its classic grip adapter for a wide range of revolvers, in a choice of finishes
BK Grip Adapters for Revolvers
Limited to S&W; and Colt D-frame revolvers, BK offers a polymer alternative to the better known, aluminum Tyler T-Grip Adapter
Temporary Hammer Shrouds
These shrouds for J-frame S&W; revolvers with an exposed hammers - which fall off when the gun is fired - should facilitate drawing from a pocket
"Lock Delete" for S&W; Revolvers
For those who wisely choose to remove the key lock from newer S&W; revolvers, Original Precision offers a few choices of inserts to fill the hole
Tromix S&W; Cylinder Release
Available for K-, L- and N-frame models, this thumb piece is shaped to cover the hole in the frame after the key lock is removed or disabled
Universal Moon Clip Tool
For revolver shooters who use moon clips, Original Precision offer a pocket-size tool to facilitate both charging the clips and removing the fired cases
Hyskore Revolver Grip Light
Oversize grip for a S&W; J-frame revolver places a 100+ lumen light alongside the top strap; avoid pointing such a light at potential targets until prepared to fire
Craig Spegel
Craig Spegel invented the revolver Boot Grip, offering ergonomics without extending the dimensions crucial for discreet carry
Badger Custom Grips
Full-size and boot grips for S&W;, Colt and Ruger revolvers
Altamont Handgun Grips
Reasonably priced grips for a wide variety of pistols and revolvers - several cosmetic options plus configuration choices for popular DA revolvers
Bobby Mac's "Snub" Holsters
IWB, OWB and ankle holsters designed specifically for short-barrel revolvers
PHLster City Special Revolver Holster
Available for J-frame S&W; and Ruger LCR revolvers, a cutout in this AIWB Kydex holster allows it to be used for an emergency, one-handed reload
Garrett Industries Holsters
Silent Thunder holsters combine the rigidity and impermeability of a Kydex shell with a leather lining, eliminating the usual Kydex "click" on the draw
K.L. Null Holsters
Legendary horsehide concealment holsters, custom design work available
C. Rusty Sherrick Custom Leather Work
Handcrafted horsehide holsters including some specially designed for women and those of us who still carry revolvers
Kramer Leather
Working primarily in horsehide, Kramer offers a wide variety of designs, including several for revolvers
Milt Sparks Holsters
Classic concealment holsters and some interesting newer designs like the Executive Companion and the Versa Max 2
Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather
Exceptional quality and some well thought designs (not for the financially impaired)
Pocket Concealment Systems
PCS offers a variety pocket holsters plus a few types of belt holsters - excellent quality at reasonable prices
Tuff Products QuickStrips, Holsters, Pouches and More
Similar to Bianchi Speed Strips, QuickStrips come in a variety of common and exotic calibers and sizes; lots of other good stuff, especially under E.D.C.
Zeta6 Reloading Products
A few variants on traditional speed strips including a hybrid that chambers all the rounds simultaneously
QuickLoader Reloading Products
Staggered-row speed strips that allow chambering up to three rounds at a time and a push-release speedloader
HKS Revolver Speedloaders
Simple, reliable, affordable and available for a wide variety of revolvers including discontinued ones; I don't recommend handling by the knob, as pictured
JOX Loader Pouches
These Kydex speedloader carriers - available for most brands - offer vertical carry over the belt with ergonomic access to the body of the loader
Aholster's Pocket Speedloader Carrier
This Kydex carrier properly positions two speedloaders in a front pocket, with minimal "printing" through the garment
SPD Tool Range Rod
This keyring tool allows removal of stuck bullets and clearance of other malfunctions; it accepts standard bore brushes and includes a magnet
Militec-1
A metal-conditioning product that provides reliable dry lubrication for firearms
Gun Butter
A premium firearm lubricant - a little drop'll do ya
Gun Safe Buyer's Guide
I can't vouch for the reviews but it can't hurt to go through this site before investing in a safe for your firearms
Buying a Safe Is Not Enough
This site includes some useful tips on how to reduce the risk that burglars will simply take off with your entire safe (scroll down a few rows)
Mogul Security Life Jackets for Firearms
Available for handguns, shotguns and handguns, these locking cases can be drilled and mounted to wall studs to secure firearms around your home
Scottlock for AR-Style Rifles
The Scottlock will secure AR-style rifles mounted with red-dot optics and most other accessories; mounting holes are already drilled
Travel Armor Cases
Available in three sizes, cases can be used to transport handguns in airline luggage as well as storage; also combination-locking carabiners and cable locks
Lockdown AR-15 Magazine Well Lock
This device locks into the magazine well, allowing your rifle to be tethered inside your vehicle or home; an optional wall mount is available
Kaw Valley Precision "Linear Comps"
These muzzle devices - for a variety of rifle and carbines - focus the muzzle blast forward, reducing the exposure to the shooter and those alongside him
Compact Clearing Trap
This compact trap is portable or can be screwed into place; it may be of particular interest to instructors and to gun owners living in apartments
Self-Defense Insurance Comparison
I can't vouch for the reviews but it can't hurt to go through this page before investing in insurance for a self-defense incident
Nicolaus Associates
Vendor of manuals, diagrams and other training aids for US military firearms

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Stephen P. Wenger
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