Electronic Hearing Protection

Indianapolis, IN --(Ammoland.com)- If the student doesn’t surpass the teacher , the teacher has failed’ and EHP founder Denny Snyder has learned that having the best of the best for a pro staff insures the success of any company- and producing quality products at an affordable price helps too.

‘We have expanded the EHP pro staff with expertise covering all shooting disciplines- handguns, archery, shotgun, muzzleloading and rifles’ states Snyder. ‘Our staff is recognized in the shooting industry as experts in their own shooting disciplines. These guys can use any hearing protection they want and choose to use EHP as their hearing enhancement and hearing protection of choice’ adds Snyder. “This class of shooters choosing EHP- that says a lot.”

Bob Foulkrod- professional hunter, outdoor writer, host of Bass Pro Shops Hunting TV show.
Foulkrod has been inducted into the Bowhunting Hall of Fame and is the first hunter in history to kill all big game animals in North America during a five year period he named the Obsession Quest. From operating bear and caribou hunting camps, to conducting his own bowhunting school and giving seminars across the country, Bob Foulkrod is a well known name in the hunting public and hunting industry. The combination of his expertise as a bowhunter, rifle hunter, and big game hunting specialist is unsurpassed in the modern world.

JJ Racaza- Senior Lead Firearms Instructor, Dept. of Homeland Security
‘Top Shot’ finalist and firearms expert.

Racaza recently earned the silver medal at the 2011 IPSC world shoot in Greece making him the #2 shooter in the world and the #1 shooter in the USA. Racaza has placed in the top 3 in the US nationals for years. In addition, Racaza is a 2 time world speed shooting champion and dominates the USPSA Area 8 championship in Open class for practical shooting.

Dave Ehrig- Outdoor writer, “Mr. Pennsylvania Black Powder”
Dave Ehrig, “Pennsylvania’s Mr. Black Powder,” is the author of six books (MUZZLELOADING FOR DEER & TURKEY,) host of six videos, Contributing Editor for PA Game News, Maryland Deer Hunting Guide, Outdoors, Cabela’s Outfitters Journal, (Deer & Deer Hunting) Muzzleloading, correspondent for the Times/Shamrock Newspapers and Allentown Morning Call, and a noted contributor to many outdoors magazines. An award-winning outdoor writer, Dave has been elected five times to “Who’s Who in Education,” and is a past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association. He is a member of the Mason/Dixon Outdoor Writers, Professional Outdoor Media Association and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He is the Chairman of the NMLRA Longhunter Big Game Awards Program. A past world record holder, Dave’s primitive pursuits with muzzleloading guns have taken him on hunts, photographic, and journalistic endeavors throughout all of the states and provinces in North America.

Bobby Hart- range rifle Gunmaker, Long range expert
Hart was born in to a family tradition of custom gun builders and gunsmiths. Hart is a 4th generation custom rifle builder. Located in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, his small, family run business is known world wide to the hunting, shooting, military and law enforcement industries. Hart was a 5 Time Jr. Bench Rest Champion,1986 300YD Heavy Varmint Champ,2000 1000YD World Open Championship Light Gun, 2001 IBS 1000YD International Championships High Score. Hart specializes in long range shooting and hunting, custom rifle building, and reloading. He puts his heart into making it possible for the customer to make the “shot of their lives.

Julie Golob- Team Captain at Smith & Wesson, Shooting Sports consultant
It is hard to abbreviate Julie’s shooting accomplishments in a nutshell which makes Golob one of the best female shooters of all time. In addition to her long list of credits, Golob recently won the silver medal at the 2011 IPSC world championships in Greece.

• The First & Only Six Division USPSA National Champion In History
• 12 – Time USPSA Ladies National Champion
• 7 – Time Ladies World Speed Shooting Champion
• 4 – Time IDPA Ladies National Champion
• The Only Triple Crown USPSA Ladies National Champion
• US Army Female Athlete of the Year & US Army Marksmanship Unit Athlete of the Year
• 2 – Time NRA Bianchi Cup Ladies Open Champion
• 2 – Time International Revolver Championships Ladies Open Champion
• American Handgunner Ladies Champion
• 15 World, 22 US National in 7 Different Disciplines
• Winner of over 115 Championship Titles in State, Regional and International Competitions

“If you are a hunter, hearing those soft subtle sounds of leaves rustling from approaching game is important so you can prepare for the shot. Hear your game and protect yourself from the harmful affects of muzzleblast with EHP Electronic Hearing Protection. “

Check out the full line of hearing enhancement and protection products by EHP at www.ehphearing.com or call 1-(317)502-7942. For high resolution images, contact Denny Snyder at (317)502-7942 or e-mail denny@ehphearing.com.

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- Data recently released by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that in 2008, the number and per capita rate of firearm accident deaths fell to an all-time low.

There were 592 firearm accident deaths (0.19 such accidents per 100,000 population) in 2008, as compared to 613 accidents (.20 per 100,000) in 2007.

In 2008, the chance of a child dying in a firearm accident was roughly one in a million.

Firearm accidents accounted for 0.5% of all accidental deaths; well below the percentages accounted for by motor vehicle accidents, falls, fires, poisonings, and several other more common types of mishaps.

Firearm suicides rose in 2008 because total suicides rose, but the percentage of suicides accounted for by those misusing firearms remained steady, at just barely over half. This is down from about 60% during the 1980s and early 1990s. The firearm suicide rate remained at just under 6 per 100,000, as it has been every year from 1999 forward. Contrary to claims made recently by some gun control advocates, firearm suicides among children are extremely uncommon, and in 2008, fell to an all-time low.

Firearm homicides (including self-defense, but excluding lawful shootings by police) declined in 2008. More recent data reported by the FBI, shows that criminal homicides declined in 2008, again in 2009, and again in 2010, to a 47-year low.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program

FAIRFAX, Va.--(Ammoland.com)- The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, NRA’s groundbreaking gun accident prevention course for children, has surpassed yet another milestone by reaching its 25 millionth child.

Created in 1988 by past NRA President Marion P. Hammer, in consultation with elementary school teachers, law enforcement officers, and child psychologists, the program provides pre-K through the third grade children with simple, effective rules to follow should they encounter a firearm in an unsupervised setting: “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.”

“Now that 25 million children have gone through the Eddie Eagle program, we can concentrate on reaching the next 25 million with this important life saving message,” said Kayne Robinson, NRA Executive Director of General Operations.

Volunteers for the Eddie Eagle program might come from diverse backgrounds, but they share a commitment to protecting children from gun accidents.

Those involved include teachers, NRA members, law enforcement officers, and community activists who teach the program, as well as private donors and Friends of NRA participants who raise funds to pay for the program’s educational materials.

More than 26,000 educators, law enforcement agencies, and civic organizations have taught the program since 1988.

“We’re here to help make a difference in their lives,” said Eddie Eagle program manager Eric Lipp. “Through the assemblies, videos and everything else, we hope that our program leaves a lasting, positive impression on all who attend.”

Law enforcement’s partnership with Eddie Eagle has proven to be very effective. Along with schools and libraries, law enforcement agencies are one of the few groups allowed to purchase an Eddie Eagle mascot costume. NRA also offers free Eddie Eagle materials to any law enforcement agency, hospital, or educational facility across the nation. To receive these free materials, or to purchase an Eddie Eagle costume, please contact the Eddie Eagle Department at 800-231-0752.

The Eddie Eagle program has been praised by numerous groups and elected officials, including the Association of American Educators, the Youth Activities Division of the National Safety Council, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the U.S. Department of Justice (through its Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency), and 26 state governors.

Funds raised through Friends of NRA and distributed through The NRA Foundation (www.nrafoundation.org) enable budget-strapped schools and police departments to teach the program at minimal or no cost. The NRA encourages citizens nationwide to participate in heightening gun accident prevention awareness within their local communities. Schools, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, and others interested in more information about The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, or persons who wish to see if free materials are available in their communities, should call the Eddie Eagle Department at (800) 231-0752 or visit www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/.

CrossBreed Holsters Bedside Backup

Guns & Gear TV

Mandeville, LA --(Ammoland.com)- This week, Guns and Gear, the most watched TV program to showcase firearms and shooting, features a LaserLyte laser for the Ruger LC9, Nosler’s custom competition ammo, the 500 Chainsaw shotgun from Mossberg, the Bedside Backup – CrossBreed Holsters’ solution to a gun in your nightstand, the 1911 E-Series from Smith & Wesson, and more!

Guns and Gear is back for a third season to showcase the newest and most interesting firearms and products in the industry. Offering a gun shop in your living room, each episode delivers in-studio interviews, field and range demonstrations, and tips from top shooting instructors.

Guns and Gear airs on VERSUS and VERSUS HD on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. Eastern and

Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Watch show segments, learn more about the products, and get the latest news at www.gunsandgeartv.com.

To view these products, check out the videos at GunTalk.TV:

• CrossBreed Holsters Bedside Backup www.guntalk.tv/gtv/library.php?video_id=706
• LaserLyte’s Ruger LC9 Laser www.guntalk.tv/gtv/library.php?video_id=707
• Mossberg 500 Chainsaw www.guntalk.tv/gtv/library.php?video_id=708
• Nosler Custom Competition Ammo www.guntalk.tv/gtv/library.php?video_id=709
• Smith&Wesson 1911 E-Series www.guntalk.tv/gtv/library.php?video_id=710

CrossBreed Holsters Bedside Backup

Guns and Gear airs on VERSUS and VERSUS HD on Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. Eastern and Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. Watch show segments, learn more about the products and get the latest news at www.gunsandgeartv.com.

Holster Arms for Concealed Carry Safety

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- This past week a Spotsylvania County, VA CHP holder fatally shot himself in the hip in front of his four children.

This tragic accident was entirely preventable. Investigators report that it appears the man had placed the gun in the waistband of his pants and accidentally pulled the trigger while trying to adjust his seat-belt.

In light of this, let’s all take a few moments to reflect on safe ways to carry a firearm. There are a few simple things we can do to enhance safety. Holsters should be used and all equipment should be regularly inspected for signs of wear. In addition, not all holsters are created equal and some are safer than others.

Here are a few key features to look for:

• The mouth of the holster should be reinforced so that it stays open when the gun is not in the holster. This allows for one-handed holstering and prevents pointed a loaded gun at your hand.
• The holster should hold the gun securely and should be used as intended; you would not want your gun to fall out while you are going about your daily activities.
• Use a holster that is made for the gun you are carrying. This will insure that the gun fits properly, helping to prevent accidental discharge while holstering. It will also help prevent accidental loss of the firearm during activities.
• Make sure the holster stays firmly attached when you draw your firearm. If the holster stays on your gun instead of on your belt it could cost you your life! If using a belt clip type holster, make sure the clip has a turned-under piece at the bottom that makes a positive attachment to your belt or waistband.
• If you carry your gun in your pocket, use a pocket holster. Do not put anything else in the pocket! You would not want your keys to accidentally trigger a discharge. Nor would you want any obstructions to lodge in the barrel or the action, causing malfunction and possible injury.
• If you carry in a purse, use a specially made holster-purse or attach a holster to the inside of your purse. Make sure it doesn’t move around and, again, don’t put anything in the compartment with the gun. Personally, I dislike carrying in a purse because they get stolen too easily, but sometimes it is unavoidable.
• Inspect the holster for signs of wear. Folds in worn leather can accidentally depress the trigger when holstering.

While it is true that good holsters can be expensive, there are some reasonably priced models out there as well.

What is comfortable is a personal choice, as is whether you carry inside the waist (IWB), strong side, cross draw, shoulder holster, pocket holster, ankle holster and so on. The important thing is to be safe, and these simple guidelines should help us do just that.

Resources:  www.crossbreedholsters.com

About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org

Gorilla G-Series Safety Harnesses

Gorilla Tree Stands

FLUSHING, Michigan –-(Ammoland.com)- Gorilla, Inc. a leading manufacturer of performance treestands and accessories, announces the introduction of the new G-Series (G30 and G20) safety harnesses.

The G30 and G20 safety harnesses feature more all-season comfort, adjustable easy-on and easy-off fit, with complete 360-degree range of movement.

The G20 safety harness is designed for hunters who desire an affordable harness without sacrificing the quality or comfort of the popular G30.

Even when properly wearing a full body safety harness certified to TMA standards, the force a user experiences during a fall can be significant. That is why the design team at Gorilla developed the Energy Absorbing System (E.A.S.) tethers for the G30 and G20 safety harnesses. G-series E.A.S. tethers reduce the felt fall force by nearly 40% compared to the leading competitor’s tether.

The new Gorilla G-Series will change the way you think about treestand safety harnesses. The adjustable form-fitting design goes on so easily – you’ll be suited up in seconds. Lightweight and breathable, the G-Series gives you a custom fit with maximum range of motion for all-season comfort and freedom.

NEW G30 Safety Harness:
The G30 safety harness is extremely lightweight at only 3.6 pounds and breathable. The arched back style has a waist belt-free design for a more comfortable fit that goes on in seconds. And, you’ll never miss the opportunity for a shot with its extra long tether for full 360o range of motion. The G30 safety harness also features comfortable padded shoulder straps and backrest for all day comfort.

NEW G20 Safety Harness:
The G20 safety harness is the newest addition to the G-Series. The fully adjustable straps deliver a comfortable and custom fit for hunters of all sizes. The padded shoulders, arched waist and leg straps make this harness so comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing it, but you’ll feel secure knowing it’s always there to protect you in the event of a fall.

About Gorilla, Inc.
Gorilla, Inc. is an award-winning manufacturer of high performance treestands and accessories for hunters who demand comfort, strength and stealth. For more information on the G-Series Safety Harnesses, visit www.gorillatreestands.com.

Unintentional Fatalities from the CDC.

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: Hunting with firearms is safe; in fact, hunting with firearms is one of the safest recreational activities in America.

With hunting season in full swing across the country, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, has compiled data that shows hunting ranks third in safety when compared to 28 other recreational pursuits, ranging from baseball to wrestling.

Hunting with firearms has an injury rate of 0.05 percent, which equates to about 1 injury per 2,000 participants, a safety level bettered only by camping (.01 percent) and billiards (.02 percent). For comparison, golf has an injury rate of 0.16 percent (1 injury per 622 participants), while tackle football topped the list of activities with an injury rate of 5.27 percent (1 injury per 19 participants).

“Many people have the misconception that hunting is unsafe, but the data tells a different story,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF’s director of industry research and analysis. “Comprehensive hunter education classes that emphasize the basic rules of firearm safety and a culture of hunters helping fellow hunters practice safe firearms handling in the field are responsible for this good record.”

To put hunting’s safety standing into perspective, compared to hunting a person is:

• 11 times more likely to be injured playing volleyball
• 19 times more likely to be injured snowboarding
• 25 times more likely to be injured cheerleading or bicycle riding
• 34 times more likely to be injured playing soccer or skateboarding
• 105 more times likely to be injured playing tackle football.

The number of hunters who went afield last year is estimated at 16.3 million. Of that total, approximately 8,122 sustained injuries, or 50 per 100,000 participants. The vast majority of hunting accidents–more than 6,600–were tree stand-related. Though recent accurate figures on fatalities related to hunting are not available, statistics from 2002 show 99 fatal hunting accidents.

It’s not just in the hunting fields that firearms are being used safely either. The most recent data (2008) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that firearms constitute just 1/2 of 1 percent of all unintentional fatalities in the United States, including those in the home,.

The injury data NSSF used to compile this hunter-safety report comes from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the Consumer Products Safety Commission 2010 and the International Hunter Education Association’s Hunter Incident Clearinghouse. Activity participation figures are from the National Sporting Goods Association Sports Participation in 2010 report.

See NSSF’s full Hunting Injury Fact Sheet.

NSSF Hunting Safe Activity Chart

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

Silencerco

Salt Lake City, UT --(Ammoland.com)- SilencerCo, the leader in firearm suppressors manufacturing has launched the “How Loud Is It” campaign.

Following up on the launch of its “Silencers Are Legal” campaign which asked the questions “Did you know that silencers are legal for civilian ownership? Yes! They absolutely are!”

SilencerCo’s “Silencers Are Legal” campaign was created because only a small percentage of American citizens knew that Silencers are indeed legal. Silencerco/SWR introduced the “Silencers Are Legal” campaign to expand the silencer market out of obscurity and into the mainstream general shooting sports industry.

The campaign has showed great success with its “Yes, Silencers Are Legal” brochure, posters, and the Silencers Are Legal website. Now Silencerco/SWR is introducing a new video campaign that is intended to be educational as well as funny called “How Loud Is It?” To see the video, click the link here: http://youtu.be/kx8EJpL1Uhk

This video series will compare everyday sounds with sounds of suppressed gun fire. The premier episode compares a .22 lr suppressed pistol with a slap to the face of Silencerco/SWR’s very own CEO Joshua Waldron. Interesting enough the slap to the face sound metered only 2 db quieter than the suppressed .22 pistol.

Silencerco/SWR performed a market research survey where they interviewed individuals going into different gun stores and asked them whether or not they knew that silencers were legal. To their surprise only 3% of the people interviewed knew that they were.

This is what inspired Silencerco/SWR CEO Joshua Waldron to launch the “Silencers Are Legal” campaign. “Three percent is not acceptable” Joshua Waldron expressed, “how can we expect to be protected by lobby groups such as the NRA and politicians when our industry numbers are so low?” With the launch of the “Silencers Are Legal” campaign the last year has experienced over 10% growth, and the momentum is building.

Waldron has also been lobbying the lobbyists, so to speak, by working with the NRA and other industry giants to add the silencer market to their agenda. Also, before this year, no general firearm distributor dealt with silencers at all. This made it very difficult for silencer companies to spread the market to dealers without their class III license. However, Silencerco along with other silencer dealers, were able to get the largest wholesale distributor Acusport Corporation, to add silencers to their inventory.

“The recent acceptance of silencers by Acusport is crucial to our industry,” said Waldron, “because of our Silencers Are Legal campaign, along with Acusport’s client list, we have been able to convert a lot of title one dealers into class III dealers. This is a huge milestone for our industry.”

The “How Loud Is It” video series is intended to reach out further and recruit more people into our industry. This is just one step closer to making silencers mainstream and teaching the benefits of shooting with silencers to the general firearms industry.

“Hunting, and recreational shooting with silencers have many benefits that people just do not think of,” Waldron informs, “Bottom line is that a silencer makes a gun a safer, safer for your ears, and safer at the range because shooters tend to be less nervous when sound and recoil is greatly reduced.”

Watch the new series “How Loud Is It?” at http://youtu.be/kx8EJpL1Uhk

Read about silencer laws, uses, and benefits at www.silencersarelegal.com and learn more about Silencerco/SWR at www.silencerco.com and www.swrmfg.com.

Firearms Less Than 1.5% of Accidental Fatalities Among Children

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- For children and youth 14 years of age and under,unintentional injuries are the leading cause of fatality, but firearms account for the lowest cause of injury among youth.

“Tragically, 18 times more children are killed by suffocation from bedding, plastic bags or small objects than guns.” said Ammoland Editor, Fredy Riehl

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

SilencerCo 22 Sparrow Suppressor

AR15.com

Honeoye Falls, NY -(Ammoland.com)- In much of Europe they are considered neighborly. In Finland and Norway one can be purchased without paperwork at the local hardware store.

Even in the United Kingdom, their use is often encouraged for hunting and acquiring one is relatively easy.

I’m talking about suppressors, “cans,” or as long as one understands the name isn’t literally true, “silencers.” (In Britain, they’re known as “moderators.”) But while the United States remains the gold standard in preservation of the right to keep and bear arms, these useful accessories have been demonized beyond all reason.

Far from the modern popular and erroneous notion that suppressors were created for organized criminals and assassins, when Hiram P. Maxim (son of Maxim machine gun creator Hiram Stevens Maxim) patented the first suppressor in 1910 his goal was to minimize noise pollution. Ads for the product featured a character called “Dr. Shush” and Maxim himself imploring those at a firing range to “hush,” with another noting, “Girls like it when there’s no nerve-ripping report.” Seemingly obsessed with sound, Maxim’s company, Maxim Silencer Co., would go on to make car mufflers and offer consulting services on noise reduction.

While Maxim’s marketing may have focused on politeness, his invention’s contribution to hearing safety is of greater importance. Most shooters and almost all hunters have firsthand experience with the effects of unsuppressed gunfire and know the results can be dangerous. The average gunshot is well above 140 decibels, the level at which permanent hearing loss can occur. Every responsible shooter uses proper ear protection at the range, but it’s not an option in home defense and many hunting situations. And while a suppressed firearm is by no means silent, it does offer protection from dangerous noise levels. In light of this, suppressors should be viewed as safety devices, rather than demonized.

Unfortunately, by the early 1930s some in law enforcement came to fear their possible use by criminals. When the National Firearms Act of 1934 was enacted, “silencers” were included alongside machine guns and short-barreled shotguns. To make sure the average citizen couldn’t buy a suppressor, the Congress imposed a $200 tax on the accessory. Considering the average family income at the time was $1,524 per year, it was a highly prohibitive sum.

Today suppressors are legal to own in 39 states, but since they are subject to the National Firearms Act, the would-be owner must fill out a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4, acquire the signature of his or her chief local law enforcement officer, and submit a passport-size photo to the BATFE along with a set of fingerprints. This information, along with the $200 transfer tax, is sent to BATFE for a rigorous background check. All of the information is then recorded in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, the BATFE database of NFA firearms.

If this process sounds onerous, that’s because it is; but despite these regulations there are also 11 states (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont) that ban the possession of suppressors outright. Still others allow possession of suppressors, but bar their use for hunting.

Such state laws are pointless, as laws governing suppressors, just as with all other firearm laws, aren’t followed by criminals. Rather than purchasing them legally, violent criminals mostly opt for crude homemade suppressors made of materials such as soda bottles and duct tape—not exactly the kind of thing those willing to be registered and pay the $200 NFA transfer tax are interested in.

The strict federal regulations are more than enough, which is why the NRA Institute for Legislative Action has been working to abolish unnecessary and restrictive state laws. In April, Washington enacted a law clearing up a peculiar situation in which suppressors were legal to possess, but illegal to use. That same month, the Kansas and Montana legislatures debated the use of suppressors for hunting, with Kansas adopting legislation allowing for their use.

The most recent blow for freedom was struck in Michigan on September 2, when Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette released a formal opinion declaring the possession, manufacture and sale of suppressors to be legal in the Great Lakes State.

Expressing support for the Attorney General’s sound logic were a number of Michigan law enforcement officials. Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf noted a suppressor’s usefulness in helping “keep the peace” between shooters and their neighbors. Others cited federal law as sufficient regulation, with Marquette County Sheriff Michael Lovelace stating, “Noise suppressors are a useful tool for Michigan firearms enthusiasts and the rigorous federal licensing process serves as a safeguard to ensure only law-abiding citizens can be in possession.”

An issue like reforming state suppressor laws may not get as much attention as high profile matters like Right-to-Carry laws and UN gun control schemes, but rest assured that the NRA-ILA is working to make sure law abiding citizens can possess and use these useful accessories.

By educating our fellow shooters about the benefits and misconceptions of suppressors, we can help bring the remaining holdout states into line with the rest of the country, and the world.

About:
AR15.Com originated in 1996 as a mailing list for firearm enthusiasts. As the years passed and interest grew, a website came into existence to present those same enthusiasts with a means to collect, share, and explore information. Shortly afterwards, a bulletin board was added to create a more interactive experience for the growing list of users. The site was still in it’s infancy, but was growing in popularity. Visit: www.ar15.com

AR15.com

Honeoye Falls, NY -(Ammoland.com)- It’s amazing how dogmatic we can be… I was recently talking with an acquaintance that is an Iraq War veteran of the Marine persuasion. While describing working with another group he went to great lengths to deride them for carrying their weapons with the muzzles pointed up.

Fast forward one week to the evening news where I see a video clip of roughly 8 American soldiers clearing a stairwell (from bottom to top) in an Iraqi house all holding their weapons in a hyper-low CQB style ready.

A high shot up the stairwell would require swinging the muzzle upward over 150 degrees, not to mention the issues of the upper shooters unwittingly covering the lower shooters with their muzzles due to neglect. Sudden appearance of a threat that induces a startle response could easily lead to a negligent discharge down the stairwell that slots 2~3 friendlies.

Brian C. Hartman Low and Ready

WHY SO DOWN?
For the uninitiated, proper assumption of the high port involves a strong hand only carry with the muzzle at a strict vertical angle. The weapon is carried on the strong side, well off the centerline. The stock is aggressively sandwiched between the strong side elbow/ upper arm and torso. The support hand does not contact the weapon and as such remains free for whatever the mission dictates.

When boarding rotary wing aircraft it certainly makes sense to keep muzzles down as your life lines are the blades and gearbox overhead, but what about operating on small to intermediate size boats? If you are assaulting said vessel, you’re probably not too stressed about the paint job, however if it is your insertion platform you may kill the whole team or throw the mission into jeopardy.

The contact, low and depressed low readies have acquired an incredible amount of traction for a host of reasons. First is the proliferation of tactical slings.

Years ago it was incredibly common to see troops with muzzles high. M1′s, M14′s, Thompson’s, M16′s, shotguns and even Greaseguns were no exception. However, this was more of a lazy, hip assisted carry than a tactically driven ready position. With the advent and proliferation of the German MP-5, low-ready mania began to generate steam. The nimble sub-machinegun favored by special operations units, featured a unique proprietary sling that when looped in a particular manner around one of the users arms and neck, enabled the weapon to be carried hands free. The design was to allow for handgun transitions, breaching, climbing and prisoner handling… the result was swinging, loaded, unsafe weapons while scoring targets, policing brass, putting in a fresh pinch of Copenhagen or keeping your hands warm in your pockets. Contemporary low readies are a muddled combination of part hold and carry, and part gravity and sloth. The notion of letting nylon webbing dictate where your weapon points is lunacy.

During training I have directed students to assume a high ready or high port and quite matter-of-factly been told, “I can’t with this sling.” This is unacceptable. It is for this reason that some British special operations units forbid the use of a sling at all. Your equipment should work for you, not the other way around.

Second is speed. Low readies work great on the square range. An unobstructed shooter with the toe of the stock properly mounted in the pocket of the shoulder can very quickly, aggressively and efficiently bring the weapon to bear. Yet with proper training, we have proven that the weapon can be mounted nearly as fast from a high port as from a hyper-low ready. However that does not necessarily make it suitable or safe for all environments and conditions.

And third is the issue of the quasi-testosterone fueled image… guys think it looks cool to have that weapon up front, muzzle down and lashed to 6 yards of a cats cradle. If you fall into this latter category, you’re probably the kind of guy who would defend wearing a drop holster with shorts and a tank top.

ISSUES WITH THE LOW READY
Weapons held with the toe of the stock in the shoulder present three primary problems.

Field-of-View Limitations
The sheer mass of the weapon held at 45 degrees or higher, acts as a blind obscuring the shooters field-of-view from any obstacles or hazards on the ground. An adversary whose toe is flagging around a corner might be missed if ones light, laser and optic addled weapon were to block it. Needless to say, a fully shouldered weapon can obscure the hands or chest of a potential adversary making threat assessment either incorrect or more time consuming.

Muzzle Discipline
When working as part of a team that is conducting bounding or peeling drills, a muzzle-down weapon is bound to sweep the torsos of teammates who are providing cover fire from either a kneeling or prone position. Hand in hand with this problem is that of interval. With a weapon in front of my body, I can only get so close to the teammate in front of me. If I’m truly muzzle conscious I will also have to modify my low ready into an offset (left or right) or uber-depressed elevation, which defeats the purpose of the low ready entirely. In addition, a sudden requirement to pivot left or right may result in prematurely raising the long gun, or getting caught on your buddies gear. With the muzzle up, the body is turned and the muzzle drops. Worst-case scenario, you will only be covering clouds or ceiling.

Balance
If the weapon is held low during high-speed (read: running) maneuvers, neither hand is free for balance. Maintaining your footing over uneven terrain can be life and death for you and the team alike. In addition falling with the weapon held in front of you will result in it being sandwiched between your body and the ground. We have seen such falls injure the operator, & worse yet, damage their weapon.

CONCLUSION
Low readies are fantastic, and the high port is not the end-all-be-all… no ready position or carry is! However, it is a very stable, reliable and safe technique for particular movements and terrain. Break free of your one-option shackles and embrace this exceptional tool.

Brian C. Hartman began his career as a platoon Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps where he worked in reconnaissance, intelligence & diplomatic security. For actions under fire he has been personally decorated by the President of the United States. He transitioned to civilian law enforcement with a major metropolitan police department, where he distinguished himself operationally and as an evolutionary trainer in multiple officer safety disciplines. Brian later began work in Special Response Team operations & instruction for a major federal agency, where he rewrote standard operating procedures, developed training programs, and researched new technologies. Brian currently serves as the Chief Instructor for Progressive F.O.R.C.E. Concepts (www.PFCtraining.com) and frequently supports domestic and international protective operations as a Detail Leader for PFC Safeguards. Brian can be reached at Hartman@PFCtraining.com

About:
AR15.Com originated in 1996 as a mailing list for firearm enthusiasts. As the years passed and interest grew, a website came into existence to present those same enthusiasts with a means to collect, share, and explore information. Shortly afterwards, a bulletin board was added to create a more interactive experience for the growing list of users. The site was still in it’s infancy, but was growing in popularity. Visit: www.ar15.com

Wisconsin Carry

Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- With Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law going into effect there has been a proliferation of speculation about the consequences of having law-abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons.

Ironically, one day after Act 35 went into effect, a Milwaukee police officer negligently discharges his weapon in Southridge mall on Wednesday.

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20111103-cop-fires-gun-southridge,0,5018946.story

As an organization that promotes safe carry in the manner of a law-abiding citizens choosing, we find it concerning that both the GreenDALE Police Chief, and Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn refer to the incident as a “freak accident” and an “complete accident” respectively.

Carry of a gun tucked in the waistband *without* a holster aka “Plaxico Burress” style is no accident, and is not a safe way to carry a handgun. Its unfortunate that with all the purported training that we often hear that police officers obtain with regard to firearms that both Police Chiefs do not take the opportunity to use this as a teachable moment.

Handguns should be carried in holsters. Carry in a holster prevents negligent discharge. The gun-accessory marketplace has thousands of options for holsters for open carry, concealed carry, inside the waistband, outside the waistband, and dozens of other carry options. When a firearm is carried in the waistband, and subsequently discharged unintentionally that is not an accident, but rather negligence.

Negligent discharge of a firearms is a violation of the law. It is unfortunate that in this case, a police officer that should be held to a HIGHER standard is unfortunately given a “free pass” when he could have very easily injured or killed someone with his negligent (not accidental) behavior. Thousands of our members have researched and obtained holsters that serve their style of carry over the last several years. We are confident that as large numbers of Wisconsin residents apply for and begin to exercise their human and constitutional right to self-defense under Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law they will not follow the example set by this Milwaukee Police Officer and instead visit their local gun store to research the variety of holsters available for conceal or open carry which will prevent negligent discharges like this Milwaukee Police officer’s from happening.

We also hope that law enforcement would not give a “free pass” to a violation of law and cite this officer for negligent discharge of a firearm as an example to all that failure to take personal responsibility and carry in a safe manner will have legal consequences.

Carry On,

About:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that “open carry” and “concealed carry” are choices to be made by law-abiding citizens based on their situation and preference. Wisconsin Carry, like many gun-rights organizations in Wisconsin, is investing a great deal of resources to get Wisconsin law changed to allow concealed carry this next legislative session by proposing Constitutional Carry. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will continue to use legal recourse to deter unlawful treatment of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who currently exercise their right to open carry, and soon will exercise their right to concealed carry in Wisconsin. Visit: www.wisconsincarry.org

SIG SAUER

EXETER, NH --(Ammoland.com)- A brief lapse of attention can alter the course of your life or someone else’s life in an instant.

That’s why it’s imperative that we carry a first-aid kit anytime we are out on the shooting range.

Here are a few helpful tips on how to set yourself up for success.

1. Obtain the training necessary to successfully deploy and utilize the med kit on both yourself and someone else. Know your kit and how to use it before you NEED to!
2. Get a med kit that is simple to use in a stressful situation, yet yields maximum benefit. It needs to be lightweight, compact, durable and easily accessed.
3. Keep a tourniquet (preferably two) readily available and ensure that you and your shooting partners know how to use them.
4. Practice, practice, practice! Deploy the tourniquet with both dominant and non-dominant hands and apply it to yourself and others. Want to learn more? Contact us and get the information on our “Bullets and Bandages” course.

Don’t bet your life on training that’s ‘good enough’, come to SIG SAUER Academy and get the best.

About the SIG SAUER Academy
The SIG SAUER Academy is located on 150+ acres in Epping, New Hampshire. In operation since 1990, the SIG SAUER Academy’s world renowned instructors provide courses for law enforcement, military and responsible citizens worldwide. Facilities include state-of-the-art shooting ranges and tactical training areas. www.sigsaueracademy.com.

AmmoLand Gun News

Manasquan, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- There are many responsibilities that come with having children, but there are plenty of fun times too.

And teaching my kids to shoot is one of them.

However, there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of your role as the parent sometimes…. it is one of the perks. Hence, the “range safety test”.

Several years ago after I began shooting, my children started asking me about when I would take them to the range. I would steal off for an hour and come home happy and pumped up and they wanted in on the fun. My teenage boys especially were interested but I was new to the sport and it was before I became an instructor, so I wasn’t quite ready to handle them at the range alone.

When I was ready, I told them we first had to spend time going over all the safety rules before we touched any guns. Then, they had to prove to me that they understood and respected the rules of safe firearms handling – both in words and in actions. This meant I drilled them on ALWAYS point your gun in a safe direction, ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and ALWAYS keep your gun unloaded until ready to use it, as well as other common sense rules related to safe shooting. I wanted them to understand that shooting is a very safe sport. In fact because of the extreme emphasis on safety, shooting is one of the SAFEST sports.

Firearms Safety Testing

And then, one night we took the guns out and I showed them how to point the gun in a safe direction and check to see if it is unloaded. We did this over and over again. I would have one child pick up the gun, demonstrate the safety rules and safety check it and then put it down. Then the next child would pick it up and so on. It became clear after a short while, after many times of checking that the gun was empty, that my 13 year old son in particular thought the ALWAYS point your gun in a safe direction was more a MOM rule than one that governs the handling of firearms.

Not that he has any less respect for a Mom rule, but I did feel like I needed to clarify this one. Yes, as a Mom I am sure I do my fair share of repetitive reminding (ie, dare I say, nagging?) For example, things like “I said put your socks in the laundry basket!” (repeated about six or seven times in a row as he is darting right past them up the stairs – again.) Or the mantra “don’t forget your lunch” repeated twenty times before he heads out the door for school. Since teenagers, and especially teenage boys only really hear half of what you say anyway, usually the last few words, repeating yourself usually works at some point. And it can save you a trip to the school with a forgotten lunch.

Although my son is a good kid, I needed to be sure he was taking me seriously, so I decided to come up with a multiple choice test for my children to complete before I allowed them to visit the range with me. Now I am the sort of person who likes to have some fun – as serious as I am when I have my Mom face on, I am more of a softie inside when it comes to discipline, but the rule is you can’t let them catch on or they will walk all over you. So I came up with a “test” for them to take. It is written with a sense of humor, but it does not mean the topics should be taken any less seriously. Obviously, I would be standing directly behind my son, he would not be alone in many of these scenarios, but I wanted him to be thinking and to use his common sense.

Also, when I wrote this test I admit I was messing around. The test was merely a graduation of sorts, my son had already proven to my satisfaction that he was ready to learn to shoot. I did not share this with him though, he was all worked up about passing – although I was sure he would pass without a problem. As for the essay question, THAT was totally for fun. I was going to stop him before he even answered it, but when I saw him writing – my curiosity got the better of me and I didn’t stop him right away. And yes, he passed. On the first attempt.

Multiple Choice Exam for Range Privileges

1. Choose the BEST Answer
2. Must receive a score of 100%
3. Exam may be taken as many times as necessary.

When handed a gun the first thing you do is:

• Point it in a safe direction.
• Check to see if it is loaded.
• Text your friends to tell them you are holding a gun.
• All of the above

You put your finger on the trigger:

• As soon as the gun is in your hand.
• As you are aiming your gun at the target.
• Once you have your target in your sights and you are prepared to shoot it.
• Whenever you want.

When you are about to enter the range you should:

• Have your eye protection on.
• Have your ear protection on.
• Have your gun in your hand.
• All of the above.
• A & B

The range officer is there to:

• Help you if your quarters get stuck in the soda machine.
• Tell you where the bathroom is.
• Hang your targets for you.
• Make sure everyone is obeying the range rules.
• Clean your gun.

Your last round went right through the bullseye! You should:

• Turn around and high five whoever is standing next to you.
• Yell out “Told you I could do it!” while holding your gun in a safe direction (ie downrange)
• Place your gun down (facing downrange), if you need to turn around and talk to anyone.
• Point your gun at your neighbor’s target to see if you can hit his also (since he can’t).
• B or C

You put your gun down to tie your shoe and now you are done shooting. You release the empty magazine. The gun is now:

• Definitely empty.
• Definitely loaded.
• Not sure – need to do a safety check.
• Empty – you asked the guy next to you and he said so.

At the range, guns are allowed to be out of their cases:

• Inside a port (or at a bench).
• Any place you want as long as you are sure the gun is not loaded.
• On the table directly behind you as long as you are watching it or loading it.
• All of the above.

Every time you pick up a gun you should:

• Find out what kind of gun it is.
• Find out what kind of ammo it uses.
• Check it to make sure it is not loaded.
• Try and pull the trigger to see if it fits your hand.

At the range it is ok to:

• Watch other people shoot from a polite distance.
• Tap someone on the shoulder to ask them an important question while they are facing downrange.
• Tell the range officer when you come in that you already know all the rules because you mother told you.
• Play around using your finger as a gun and aiming it at people.

You have checked your gun and found it is empty, one, two, three…..twenty-five times. You can now point your gun:

• Wherever you want, I mean Duh, you just checked it and it isn’t loaded.
• In a safe direction.
• At your sister, she just saw you check it and she knows you are just kidding.
• Wherever a responsible adult tells you to.
• All of the above.

Bonus points, will not take away from your score:

Turn over the page and write an essay on the following topic (500 words minimum):

Would you say that guns are dangerous or do you think it is people who are dangerous? Why?

Eric at the Gunmart Blog

United States --(Ammoland.com)- Almost every morning the Disney Channel runs shortened versions of their “golden oldies” between some of their modern day cartoons as a way to fill time until the next scheduled show begins.

One morning recently my kids were watching the Disney Channel when they featured an old Mickey Mouse classic called ‘Mickey’s Parrot‘ which was originally released back on September 09, 1938.

In this episode, a parrot belonging to an escaped killer wanders into Mickey’s basement. Mickey hears it talking and thinks that the parrot is the killer who is on the loose who he just heard about on the radio. Mickey then goes and grabs his double barreled shotgun off of the wall and prepares to defend himself.

Well, wouldn’t you know it… in the version they presented on the Disney Channel the other day, they had digitally removed the shotgun and replaced it with a broom. Yes, Mickey grabbed a broom off of the gun rack, shouldered it, and prepared to defend himself with his handy, dandy tactical… broom.

Really, Disney? Really? 
Do you think we have come to the point as a society that we can’t even allow guns to be seen by children for fear that it will cause them to become crazed, blood thirsty psychopaths? Do you really think guns are so evil that the mere sight of one will cause blood to run in the streets? Give me a break!

Disney cartoons from that era have featured firearms literally more times than I can count. They’ve depicted firearms in terms of being a legitimate means of self defense, as a means to take game animals, and they have shown firearms as the indispensable tool that they are for every cowboy and cowgirl of the old west. Several generations have now been brought up with Disney cartoons that have depicted firearms as an integral part of their plot, and now you are telling me that we as a society can no longer handle it?…

That our children must be completely isolated from the mere sight of a cartoon gun? Ridiculous!

No one outside of Disney can definitively say why they would choose this extremely misguided approach to self censorship, but I find it very disturbing. Did they choose to do this because they are anti-gun? Did they do it because they actually believe that kids seeing firearms would be detrimental? Perhaps they are just so afraid of the loony liberal soccer mom’s that might email them about it that they felt it was just the easiest path to take. I dont know the answer to the question of “why” they are doing this, but my response to them is the same no matter what… SHAME ON YOU, DISNEY! SHAME ON YOU!

If Disney is actually concerned about child safety with regards to firearms, then I would suggest they team up with the NRA and devote some significant airtime to letting Eddie Eagle educate children about what to do if they find a gun. Not allowing children to be exposed to even the sight of a gun is not the answer. In fact, that’s what gets kids killed.

The responsible thing to do is to talk to kids about guns. Tell them about the dangers, and educate them about how to be safe. Disney has a captive audience to say the least, and they should be doing everything they can to educate children (and parents) in our nation about gun safety. Disney should be doing their part to give children the knowledge that they need to keep them safe if they do ever happen to find a gun. Spreading the message of “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.” is the path they should be taking. If Disney actually wants to make a difference when it comes to the safety of children, then they should be providing the millions of children that watch their network with useful information about firearms that will actually prevent accidents.

Disney sticking their heads in the sand and hoping that kids never see what a gun looks like is not the answer. Talking openly and honestly about gun safety is what will actually help children. How great would it be if an entire generation that is going to grow up watching the Disney Channel could be exposed to such valuable information about gun safety?

What Disney is currently doing is misguided and extremely dangerous. They are not helping to keep kids safe, and they are being extremely counterproductive towards preventing gun accidents in America.

About:
Eric at the Gunmart Blog – Eric is a gun blogger, firearms enthusiast, and sorry excuse for a hunter. He is also an AmmoLand Shoting Sports News Columnist. Leave him some comments on this article before you go. You can also follow Eric on Facebook, Twitter and at his blog, Gunmart. Visit: GunmartBlog.com

Mancini Safe Company

Norwood, MA --(Ammoland.com)- For over 50 years, MANCINI Safe Company has specialized in the design, manufacturing and distribution of the most formidable High Security Safes sold in the United States.

With the advantage of 50 years in the security business, MANCINI Safe Company has also had the opportunity to research gun safe brands first hand.

We have gained expertise in reliable gun safe brands by comparison, competition and distribution.

MANCINI Safe Company PYRAMID Gun Safe

We have an unwavering belief in the quality of the products we sell and have flat-out refused affiliation with sub-par brands.

Always evolving, MANCINI Safe Company has now embarked on combining the tried and true protection of our jeweler and banker type safes into an attractive affordable gun safe.

Gun safes should not simply be about aesthetics or extravagant bells and whistles rather about the security protection of your firearms.

MANCINI Safe Company has produced an attractive product with the security of re-lockers, cross locks, bolt detent, hard plate and glass plate. Combined with a strong safe body, thick door slab and solid bolt work, the PYRAMID Gun Safe will protect what’s really important to you – your Peace of Mind.

For more information visit our website: www.mancinisafe.com. Or call 1(800) 367-3453

West Virginia Wild

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- In most West Virginia families, someone hunts and or fishes.

My grandchildren are like most youngsters across the state and most of the nation — they are fascinated by shooting.

Because of this fascination, we have an obligation to do a couple of things. The first is to decide if we want our children involved in hunting and shooting.

If the answer is yes, then the second thing we need to do is to prepare them properly. We must teach them gun and shooting safety. I started our children and grandchildren with basic safety instruction and with a pellet gun.

Like all sports, kids like action. If they are playing baseball they want to bat. If they are playing football they want to run the ball or tackle someone who has the ball. They lose interest quickly if they never hit the ball or if they are not part of the plays. With this in mind, I started our kids shooting with the silhouettes made for shooting with a 22 caliber rimfire rifle. Setting them in front of a proper backstop on a small board, they are able to shoot and see the targets get knocked down when hit. This type rifle practice prepares them for shooting the larger rifles when it comes time to go varmint or deer hunting.

Stressing good trigger control, breathing and sight alignment are lessons that will carry on into all of their hunting and shooting sports. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to teach shooting skills to children with a gun made for an adult. The better practice is to use a gun scaled down to the dimensions of a child. This usually means a gun with a shorter stock and shorter barrel. If the child is straining to reach the trigger or to see in the scope or iron sights, then he or she will not be able to concentrate on holding the gun properly.

When teaching any of the shooting activities, safety and protection of the child is uppermost in our minds. Make sure that everyone involved in the activity or around the activity has safe eye protection and good hearing protection. Above all, make sure you know where everyone around the activity is located when the shooting lessons begin. With our grandchildren I insist that all are seated with me and behind the gun or in the house. What you don’t want is for one of them to be wandering around and walk out in front of the gun barrel. I have seen instances where the shooter was concentrating so intently on what he was looking at through the scope that he never saw the person walk out in front of the gun until he saw them in the scope.

If you are able to shoot on your own property, make sure you have a good, earthen backstop for the bullets. You want as much dirt and as little rock as possible as the backstop. If you don’t have a safe place of your own to shoot, go to one of the many shooting ranges provided by the West Virginia Division Natural Resources. These ranges were built with this very need in mind for our hunters, and the ranges were built with dollars from the sale of hunting licenses and conservation stamps.

Lately, we have had some problems of littering at the ranges but, hopefully, we are getting this under control. If you treat these ranges as you would treat your own land then much of the problems will be avoided. I am sure you wouldn’t leave broken bottles, pop and beer cans and any amount of cardboard and paper on the ground at your own land, so don’t leave it behind at the ranges the DNR provides for your shooting needs.

Whether recreational shooting or teaching a youngster to shoot in preparation of their first hunt, please abide by the rules posted at the ranges. Shoot only paper or clay birds if shooting with a shotgun. Take out everything you bring in to the range except what goes down the gun barrel in the way of bullets and or shot.

The fall hunting season is fast approaching with an early start to this year’s general bow season the bowhunters are already preparing. As you drive around the countryside and see bow targets, block targets and 3-D lifelike animal targets springing up in backyards like so many mushrooms, you know hunting season can’t be far behind. Take time now to teach proper gun use and safety and you will feel much more comfortable when that youngster ventures out with you for his or her first hunting adventure. And, don’t forget those little girls, they also like to shoot and hunt.

Frank Jezioro and family safely enjoying shooting.

NOTE: The WVDNR offers Hunter Education Classes for all ages across the state. Visit www.wvdnr.gov/lenforce/education.shtm to find a class near you.

American Tactical Imports Bio Gun Safe

New Jersey Second Amendment Society

New Jersey --(Ammoland.com)- An ever increasing number of people are purchasing firearms for home protection today.

Many of these people are first time firearms owners who have decided for various reasons to add a layer of protection for their families.

This means that many homes with firearms will also have children present and while good firearms safety storage measures are important to block access to all unauthorized persons, its especially important to consider how to safeguard your children as well as to introduce them to any firearms you have in your home.

It is the responsibility of all gun owners to store their guns safely. New Jersey law (Statute 2C:58-15) requires that all firearms be inaccessible to minors.

It states “A person who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to a loaded firearm at a premises under the person’s control commits a disorderly persons offense if a minor gains access to the firearm, unless the person: (1) Stores the firearm in a securely locked box or container; (2) Stores the firearm in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or (3) Secures the firearm with a trigger lock.” Other states have similar laws restricting a minor’s access to firearms and including exclusions where applicable.

I would take it a step further and suggest that it is a good idea that all occupants of the home be educated - on their level - on how to safely handle, or not handle a firearm. There is no right or wrong age or amount of information given to a child regarding firearms, it is solely up to the discretion of parents to decide what is appropriate in their situation.

The first question many new gun owners will ask is if the gun is meant for home protection, how can it be stored unloaded? Of course, any firearm that will be used for personal and home protection will need to be stored ready for immediate use and easily accessible to those authorized to use it. There are many ways to store a gun as “inaccessible” but the first question following how the gun will be used is who will be present in the home. When children are present, the best gun storage will be in a locked safe. As children are naturally curious, guns that are stored in the top of closets or attics should not be considered inaccessible to children.

There are a number of options when choosing a safe to store your home defense firearm. Safes that use keys will make it difficult to access the gun quickly, so a better choice would be a keypad design or a biometric fingerprint safe that is secured inside a drawer or is attached to a wall or nightstand. With a biometric safe, several fingerprints can be stored in the memory of the safe that will allow quick access, usually within seconds, to the loaded firearm inside. Biometric safes can be finicky however, and some people will have a more difficult time having their fingerprints recognized immediately. Another choice is a safe with a digital keypad. The keypad would have four buttons set in the pattern of a hand and the user programs a set order in which to hit the buttons to open the safe. With practice, this sort of safe is easy to use both quickly and in the dark. In order to access the firearm quickly, regular practice, even nightly, is recommended. A good trick is to hide something you need inside, like your car keys or prescription medicine until you can open the safe without even thinking about it. There are also safes that combine fingerprint recognition and a keypad in case it fails to open using one of the methods. All safes of this kind will have back up keys, be sure to keep them in a separate location from the safe, and inaccessible to children.

Firearms that will not be used for home defense can be stored in a safe with any type of lock as they don’t need to be accessed immediately. A common design of a safe for storing long guns would have a combination lock on the door.

It should go without saying that anyone handling firearms follow the rules of safe gun handling. Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. Always keep your gun unloaded until ready to use it. It is important to stress the word “always” each time you mention safe gun handing, especially with new shooters and when introducing firearms to children.

For very young children, the best education concerning firearms is to stress that they should not be touched under any circumstances and to leave the area and tell an adult immediately if a gun is present. Some parents may decide that it is better not to mention to their children that firearms are present in the home at all. It is up to each family to decide the appropriate level of knowledge for their children.

I have found that because children are naturally curious, it is hard to hide anything from them. Each of my children have had the opportunity to see, touch and handle a gun in our home under my supervision. They have all been educated on the rules of safe gun handling and have been told to only handle firearms in my presence and with my permission. I have also made it clear that anytime they wish to see a gun in our home all they have to do is ask. If you decide to offer this option to your children, and I believe it is a good one, be prepared to respond immediately when they ask you to see your gun. Also be prepared to take the time to allow them to handle the gun, safely, if they so choose. Doing this will take away the mystery from the gun and by dropping what you are doing you are showing your child how important it is that an adult be present when guns are present and it takes away the mystique of the gun. Be prepared for an inquisitive child to test you and ask you at a very inconvenient time to see your gun. If you comply, you will find that you have passed the “test” and the interest and thrill will quickly wear off. It is unlikely the child will continue to ask you to see the gun. By doing this you have also added another level of protection for your child. If your child has had exposure to your gun under your supervision, it is unlikely he will feel the need to handle a gun, for example, when visiting a friend’s house. Further, since he has the information you provided to him, he knows to leave the area and tell an adult.

When making the decision to inform your child about guns in your home, remember that children will share information with anyone they come into contact with, their teachers, friends, even the cashier at the supermarket. So consider how open you want to be about the fact that you own guns and weigh that against the kind of safety cushion you provide your child with by introducing him to the guns in your home. Also consider that if you tell your child about your guns but then ask him to keep it a secret, it presents a difficult message for a less mature child. It is difficult for some children to process what information belongs as private family information and what can be shared with others. You don’t want to have your child think there is anything “wrong” with the fact that his family owns guns.

The more matter of fact you are about it, the less enticing the idea of sharing the information will be to your child

Shari Spivack is is a board member, officer and valuable member of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society. Shari brings a fresh perspective on the RKBA in New Jersey. You can keep up to date on the events and activities of the NJ2AS by visiting us at www.nj2as.com.

About:
New Jersey Second Amendment Society – Our mission is to promote the free exercise of Second Amendment rights within the community and Legislature of New Jersey, to educate the community regarding the enjoyable, safe, and responsible use of firearms, and to engender a sense of camaraderie and fellowship among the members and their families. Visit: www.nj2as.com

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- NSSF’s Bill Brassard offers a reminder to gun owners encouraging all to follow the golden rules of firearm safety and to safely store their firearms when they are not in use.

The Golden Rules of gun safety deal with handling firearms, but safely storing firearms is critically important as well, especially during summertime when children may be at home or at a friend’s home–unsupervised.

In this video, NSSF outlines procedures for safely storing firearms in the home to make sure that children and other unauthorized users cannot access them. NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program works to meet that goal nationwide by providing free firearm safety kits to gun owners through law enforcement partners.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

EHP Electronic Hearing Protection Mini Hearing Device - The EHP-MC1

Electronic Hearing Protection

Indianapolis, IN --(Ammoland.com)- EHP Electronic Hearing Protection founder Denny Snyder announces the addition of the new EHD- MC1 to their line of sound amplification/hearing protection products.

The EHD- MC1 is the most advanced mini-ITC(In The Canal)unit available and will take outdoor enthusiasts hearing enhancement and protection to an entirely new level.

The EHD- MC1 increases the user’s ability to hear up to nine times their normal hearing yet compresses any sound over 85 db to a safe level. This totally digital two channel unit uses AFC(Advanced Feedback Cancellation) technology and with its omni-directional microphone, the EHD- MC1 provides the user with crystal clear sound. The EHD- MC1 has an easy ON/OFF switch and a memory button to choose from four pre-set programs to precisely set the unit for individual needs.

The EHD- MC1 has a small and very discrete design that gives the user a comfortable all-day fit. Each pre-set program increases the gain from 25db up to 45 db of power. This unique feature gives the user the ability to pinpoint sound- even in a noisy environment such as trying to hear range announcements during multiple shooting events or locating the direction of a distant gobble, bugle, or sounds of approaching game. Competition shooters are raving about their ability to hear the shot timer much sooner than their peers who use standard passive hearing protection.

The EHD- MC1 has a noise reduction rating(NRR) of 29 dB coupled with CD-quality sound which makes the new EHD- MC1 the ultimate tool for shooting and outdoor enthusiasts.

The EHD- MC1 uses one standard #10A Cell Zinc-Air battery and because it contains more efficient digital circuitry, battery life expectancy has surpassed the competition – giving the user up to 100 hours of worry-free unsurpassed sound quality and speech clarity that only digital technology can produce. EHD- MC1 comes with its own belt-clip padded carrying case. Suggested MSRP is available as a set for $599 or $310 each.

Check out the new EHD- MC1 and the full line of hearing enhancement and protection products at www.ehphearing.com or call 1-(317)502-7942.

Finger OFF the Trigger Stupid

Tactical Tips by Larry Vickers

Fayetteville, NC --(Ammoland.com)- One thing I like to highlight in my classes is ‘real’ world firearms safety- not the firearms safety that an NRA certified instructor reads off a little card he carries in his wallet but gun safety as it applies to you in the world we live in.

The world that is full of lawyers that would like nothing more than to take everything you own. With that in mind here goes;

Accuracy Is King
1) In the real world there are no paper targets or 12 foot earth berms behind the target. On the two way range the targets shoot back and the best backstop you can hope to have is the upper torso of the bad guy your dealing with. This is yet another reason why accuracy is king in the real world and always remember when you pull the trigger you own the bullet you just launched- good or bad.

Danger Loaded Weapon
2) Treat every weapon as if is loaded at all times; read that last part again- at all times!! We know this is important but people don’t do it. Something in our brain says that once the gun is ‘empty’ it is inert and we can point it anywhere we want to – this is dangerous as all we have to be is wrong one time and a life changing event could happen.

This is actually the most commonly violated safety rule of them all.

Muzzle Awareness
3) Muzzle awareness; goes hand in hand with #2 – always ask yourself ‘what if this weapon where to discharge right now?’

You want the answer to be ‘ my ears would be ringing but no one would be hurt’ . This one can’t be over emphasized because in the real world LE and Military sweep people with their muzzles all the time as a matter of doing business- in some cases it can’t be avoided. My theory is you need to know where the gun is pointing at all times and only sweep someone if it is absolutely necessary- in the civilian sector it rarely is, if ever.

Finger OFF the Trigger Stupid
4) Finger OFF trigger until ready to fire. This is The golden Rule - the firearms safety law that allows you to use and handle weapons on a regular basis without harming yourself or someone else. And the rule that is mandatory in this day and age; case in point the is Glock handguns – the most popular in the world and pistols that require you put this rule into practice each and every time you handle one.

Not only is firearms safety everyone’s responsibility you have to practice it 24/7 – you have to remain diligent and never let your guard down- remember it only takes one mistake to change your life or someone else’s life forever.

Stay safe and stay shooting!

LAV out.

Larry Vickers

About:
Larry Vickers is a retired career special operations soldier with 20-plus years of service to our country.

A longtime 1st SFOD- Delta operational member, he was a key player in the small arms marksmanship expertise and weapons selection of that Unit.

He brings a very unique set of skills to the market, and has a wide and varied background in the firearms industry.

Visit www.vickerstactical.com

Hunter Safety Systems

COLUMBUS, Georgia --(Ammoland.com)- The most user-friendly design Hunter Safety System has ever offered, the Pro Series.

Available in Realtree APG, is loaded, not only with the latest upgraded safety features like saddle- style leg straps and new super strong rubber-coated leg strap buckles, but also the comfort and convenience stuff.

The eight-pocket design (with no Velcro) holds everything you need to carry.

The vest also includes Hunter Safety System’s one-of-a-kind built-in binocular/rangefinder straps.

Hunter Safety System Pro Series Safety Harness

Plus, you get the special ventilating mesh design back for cool hunting in hot weather as well as all the other great standard features you find in all of HSS’s other premium vests.

Features:

• Stronger, lighter, rubber-coated leg strap buckles for added comfort and stealth!
• Single Front Buckle reduces weight and adds convenience – even in the dark!
• Elastic Armholes for a snug fit during bow hunts.
• NEW! Drag Loop eliminates possible noise from plastic “D”-ring.
• Eight-pocket design with deeper side pockets, flapped front pockets, and “Napoleon” side-loading breast pockets that actually increase useable storage space and keep gear more secure.
• Slimmer tailoring with ventilated back mesh for cool early season hunting and 25% lighter overall weight.
• Saddle-Style Leg Straps for all day comfort and unparalleled stress reduction in the event of a fall.

www.huntersafetysystem.com

American Tactical Imports Bio Gun Safe

American Tactical Imports

ROCHESTER, NY –-(Ammoland.com)- American Tactical Imports is proud to introduce the ATI 9G INPRINT Biometric Safe.

The INPRINT biometric security device was first introduced in 2002 with one goal—to “provide a family of products that offer secured instant access through the use of your finger.” Now, with advancements in size, color, construction and interface, INPRINT continues to raise the bar in the industry.

The INPRINT product family, through superior technology, uses the individualized security of your own fingerprint for granting access to your safe.

Its active reader swipes with one finger operation and opens almost instantly while plugged in, or in 2 seconds with a 9-volt battery that lasts all year. The INPRINT has a remarkably low false acceptance rate of only 1 in 100,000 as compared with the competition’s rate of 1 in 5,000. The INPRINT was designed, engineered and is built in the USA.

To learn more, visit www.americantactical.us, www.9gproducts.com or contact your local gun shop.

For more information regarding American Tactical Imports please visit www.americantactical.us

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports that there were 17 hunting incidents in Kansas in 2010, five more than the record low of 12 in 2009. One of the accidents was fatal.

The one fatal accident occurred in Dickinson County when two turkey hunters had finished hunting for the day and were walking across a plowed field to their vehicle. The shooter stated that he was carrying his 20-gauge shotgun in the high ready position when he heard a turkey gobble behind him. He turned to his left, toward the victim, and the shotgun discharged, striking the victim in the side of the neck. The victim died at the scene.

In an average year, about 50 percent of Kansas hunting accidents involve swinging on game while hunting upland birds. That figure held true last year, when eight of the 17 cases involved swinging on game. Although the single fatality involved careless gun handling, 2010 showed a drop in the number of careless handling incidents, a point stressed in KDWP’s hunter education courses.

“We place great emphasis on gun handling skills in our courses — always controlling the muzzle, keeping the finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger, as well as the other rules of safe gun handling,” says Kent Barrett, statewide Hunter Education Program coordinator for KDWP.

“We can only hope to prevent these unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future. In fact, they were all preventable. All of our instruction and all of our hunter education course activities included in our field days emphasize this point and constantly promote safe gun handling practices.”

Although there was an increase in 2010, the number of accidents is still very small compared to the number of hunters and hours spent afield. According to the latest available statistics in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 271,000 hunters spent more than 3 million man-days hunting in Kansas.

In addition to the official hunting incidents reported, three bowhunters fell from treestands, one fatally. In none of these incidents was the hunter wearing a restraint harness, as is taught in hunter education and bowhunter education courses.

“The simple use of a fall restraint system would have prevented these incidents from occurring,” Barrett notes. “Bowhunters need to remind themselves to use these safety devices.

“But the take away message from 2010 is that hunting is still incredibly safe,” he continues. “Studies consistently show that hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, with only five injuries per 100,000 participants. With more 19 million hunters in the U.S., our volunteer hunter education instructors should rightfully feel pride in their efforts to educate students. They must be listening.”

As in past years, young hunters were involved in fewer incidents than more seasoned hunters; the average age of shooters involved in these incidents was 37.

Hunting is indeed safe. According to the National Safety Council, Injury Facts 2008 Edition, hunting is by far the safest sport. Figures show that while football players suffer 2,585 injuries per 100,000 participants, baseball players suffer 1,122 injuries per 100,000, and even billiards players suffer 15 injuries per 100,000 participants.

Midway USA

Columbia, MO -(Ammoland.com)- MidwayUSA a catalog and Internet retailer offering JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING℠ for Shooting, Reloading, Gunsmithing and Hunting, is pleased to announce a new series of Firearm Safety Videos, now available FREE at www.midwayusa.com/safety.

These high-quality videos are designed as instructional tools for teaching the safe handling and use of firearms. Visual and audio support in a classroom environment facilitates better recall and retention of the lesson. By utilizing these free, high definition Firearm Safety Videos, to support classroom or at home instruction, students are more likely to remember the lesson and incorporate their new knowledge in the field. Each 90-second video has a descriptive name and teaches one or more Basic Firearm Safety Rules.

“Firearm Safety, Gun Safety or Hunter Safety; it doesn’t matter which term you use, this is a very important topic for everyone who spends time around guns – whether as a collector, a shooter or a hunter,” says Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA. “We saw a need for short, well-focused videos to help people learn how to safely be around and use firearms and we believe this new collection will meet this need.”

Larry Potterfield will formally announce the new Firearm Safety Videos on Saturday, April 30, at 1:30PM in the NRA Booth at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Pittsburg, PA. The announcement is a press event and the public is encouraged to attend.

For more information about MidwayUSA, please visit www.midwayusa.com or call 1-800-243-3220.

For more information about the Firearm Safety Videos or to view the videos, please visit www.midwayusa.com/safety.

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- Schoolchildren in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will soon be hearing the lifesaving message of the National Rifle Association’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program.

Eddie Eagle staff, along with the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and the Castle Shannon Borough Police Department, will be presenting their award-winning program to students from nine elementary schools in the Pittsburgh area from Monday, April 25 through Wednesday, April 27.

A firearm accident prevention program designed for children in the Pre-K through the 3rd grade, the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program teaches children, if they find a gun, to: “STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.” Now in its 23nd year, the program has reached over 24 million children nationwide.

Since the Eddie Eagle program’s inception, more than a million Pennsylvania children have heard its lifesaving message. Much of this is made possible through funds raised by Friends of NRA and grants distributed by way of The NRA Foundation.

“The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and Castle Shannon Borough Police Department have been instrumental in helping us bring Eddie Eagle’s life saving message to the local elementary schools,” said Eddie Eagle Program Manager Eric Lipp. “We’re always happy to work with local law enforcement when it comes to teaching children firearm accident prevention.”

Accidental deaths with firearms have been decreasing for decades and are currently at an all-time low among the U.S. population. Among children in the Eddie Eagle age group, fatal firearm accidents have been reduced more than 80% since the program’s nation-wide launch. NRA believes that firearm accident prevention programs such as Eddie Eagle are a significant factor in that decline.

The program was created by past NRA President, Marion P. Hammer, in consultation with elementary school teachers, law enforcement officers, and child psychologists. It has been endorsed by the Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention (within the U.S. Department of Justice) and has been praised by national and community organizations, governors, and state legislatures for its effectiveness.

“The NRA is proud to continue spreading the message of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program to communities all across the country,” says Glen Hoyer, Director of the NRA Law Enforcement Division. “The program’s success is unmatched and will continue to grow for years to come.”

The NRA encourages citizens nationwide to participate in heightening firearm safety awareness within their local communities. Schools, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, and others interested in more information about the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program can call the Eddie Eagle Department at (800) 231-0752 or visit their website at: http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie. Eddie Eagle will also be making public appearances at NRA’s 140th Annual Meeting and Exhibits, to be held April 29-May 1 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

THE EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM:

Schedule of Assemblies

Monday, April 25, 2011

Hartwood Elementary 8:30 AM
3730 Saxonburg Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-767-5396
Elementary Principal: Dr. Jacquelyn Rauzan

Fairview Elementary 10:00 AM
378 Dorseyville Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-963-9315
Principal: Dr. Sari McNamara

Kerr Elementary 12:15 PM
341 Kittanning Pike
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
Phone: 412-781-4105
Principal: Dr. Paul Noro

O’Hara Elementary 2:15 PM
115 Cabin Lane
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-963-0333
Principal: Michael Rowe

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

*Fred L. Aiken Elementary 10:00 AM
881 Greentree Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Phone: 412-571-6241
Principal: Mrs. Bobbi-Ann Barnes
*This school will be hosting students from the St. Margaret of Scotland School at their 10:00am assembly.

Myrtle Avenue Elementary 1:30 PM
3724 Myrtle Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Phone: 412-571-6135
Principal: Mr. Joseph Arcuri

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Moore Elementary 9:00 AM
3809 Dalewood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15227-350
Phone: 412-881-7776
Principal: Mr. Robert Monaghan

Elroy Elementary School 1:30 PM
3129 Elroy Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
Phone: 412-881-4484
Principal: Ms. Amy Burch

CCRKBA.org

BELLEVUE, WA – -(Ammoland.com)- President Obama’s well-intentioned Sunday essay on gun rights in a Tucson newspaper demonstrates that he – and probably his entire administration – remains confused about firearms safety and gun control, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

“The president evidently can’t tell the difference between genuine gun safety advocates and gun prohibitionists,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “Obama’s remarks reveal that he equates gun control with gun safety, when in reality the self-proclaimed ‘safety’ advocates spend all of their time spreading anti-gun hysteria, and none of it promoting responsible gun ownership.”

In his essay, the president wrote, “The fact is, almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible. They’re our friends and neighbors. They buy their guns legally and use them safely, whether for hunting or target shooting, collection or protection. And that’s something that gun-safety advocates need to accept. Likewise, advocates for gun owners should accept the awful reality that gun violence affects Americans everywhere, whether on the streets of Chicago or at a supermarket in Tucson.”

“Those to whom the president refers to as ‘advocates for gun owners’ are gun owners, themselves,” Gottlieb observed. “They understand real gun safety involves muzzle control, proper storage, practiced marksmanship, and general safe handling. The so-called ‘gun safety advocates’ to whom the president alludes in his comments are prohibitionists who hide their true intentions behind a facade of pseudo-responsibility.

“Their idea of ‘gun safety’,” he continued, “is to make gun ownership prohibitively expensive by adopting registration and licensing fees, and regulations that are deliberately written to discourage average citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights.

“Please, Mr. President, the next time you take pen in hand to discuss gun rights and firearms safety, make sure you understand the distinction between gun owners and gun grabbers,” Gottlieb concluded.

With more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is one of the nation’s premier gun rights organizations. As a non-profit organization, the Citizens Committee is dedicated to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of elected officials and facilitating grass-roots organization of gun rights activists in local communities throughout the United States. The Citizens Committee can be reached by phone at (425) 454-4911, on the Internet at www.ccrkba.org or by email to InformationRequest@ccrkba.org.

10 Tips for a Safe Spring Turkey Hunt

National Wild Turkey Federation

EDGEFIELD, S.C. --(Ammoland.com)- With wild turkey hunting season still in full swing in many states, the National Wild Turkey Federation has the safety of turkey hunters in mind.

Safety is a key element when you’re in the woods mimicking the sounds of wild turkeys. A safe turkey hunter is much like a safe driver — you must be defensive minded. Also, keep in mind that a safe hunter is an effective hunter.

Here are 10 tips to consider when you’re in the woods:

• Leave the area if you suspect there’s another hunter already working the same bird.
• Resist the urge to stalk turkey sounds. It is nearly impossible to sneak up on a turkey. It is also unethical and could lead to an accident.
• Select a spot that is in open timber rather than thick brush: wearing camouflage clothing and eliminating movement is more critical to success than hiding in heavy cover.
• Sit against a large stump, blow-down, tree trunk or rock that is wider than your shoulders and higher than your head when calling wild turkeys.
• Never wear bright colors, especially not red, white, blue or black because these are the colors of a wild turkey gobbler. Watch out for red, white or blue on your socks, t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, hats, bandannas, etc. Wear dark undershirts and socks, and pants long enough to be tucked into boots.
• Remain still and speak in a loud, clear voice to announce your presence to other hunters if necessary. Never move, wave or make turkey sounds to alert another hunter of your presence.
• Keep your hands and head camouflaged when calling.
• Maintain a clear field of view when using a camouflage blind or netting.
• Ensure your decoy is not visible when you are transporting it. Stash the decoy in your vest and make sure the head is not sticking out. If you harvest a wild turkey during your hunting trip, you also should cover the bird’s head and body when carrying it out from your hunting spot.
• Put your gun’s safety on and approach the downed bird with your firearm pointed in a safe direction after firing. Never run with a firearm.

The National Wild Turkey Federation is committed to making hunter safety a top priority. In 1991, the NWTF initiated the National Turkey Hunting Safety Task Force to complement the hunter safety efforts of state agencies, the International Hunters Education Association, the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The task force – composed of hunting and shooting safety experts from around the country – has met three times since 1992 to develop a comprehensive hunter safety program, and has since produced and distributed more than 1 million pieces of hunting safety information.

Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the members of the National Turkey Hunting Task Force, the number of turkey hunting incidents continues to decrease even as turkey hunters flock to the woods in increasing numbers. Spring turkey hunting incidents have decreased from a high of 8.1 per 100,000 in 1991 to a low of 2.95 per 100,000 in 2001, the most recent year this data was updated.

Note: Before heading afield this spring, check with your state or provincial wildlife agency for hunting seasons and bag limits.

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- For new and inexperienced shooters, a trip to an indoor shooting range can be intimidating because no one wants to run afoul of range safety rules or showing courtesy to fellow target shooters.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, advises those target shooters to relax and watch its new video, “Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette.”

All shooters will better understand what’s expected of them at indoor ranges after viewing the video and, as a result, will be more comfortable the next time they head to their favorite shooting facility.

“Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette” can be viewed on NSSF’s You Tube channel.

The eight-and-a-half-minute video covers the following:

• Rules of gun safety
• Eye and ear protection
• Range rules
• Role of the range officer
• What to do when you get to the firing line
• Making your handgun safe
• Cease fire—who can call it, what it means and how you should respond
• Range courtesy, common sense and etiquette

The video is hosted by Barry Laws, a member of NSSF’s Association of Shooting Ranges Advisory Committee. He and his wife, Cynthia, own Open Range, the Crestwood, Ky.-indoor shooting facility where the video was filmed.

Shooting range managers interested in showing their customers an “Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette” can request a free DVD from NSSF by contacting Ann Siladi at asiladi@nssf.org.

“Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette” is the latest addition to NSSF’s fast-growing library of instructional and education videos for gun owners and shooting sports participants. A great way to keep up with new tips and insights provided by NSSF is with Pull The Trigger, a monthly newsletter with video segments. View current and past issues of Pull The Trigger at www.nssf.org/PullTheTrigger and subscribe free of charge at www.nssf.org/enewsletters.

And always remember, firearm safety depends on you!

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NSSF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. Learn about the Foundation’s history here.

EHP Electronic Hearing Protection EHD-1 Behind The Ear Technology

Electronic Hearing Protection

Indianapolis, IN --(Ammoland.com)- When the shooting public speaks, EHP founder Denny Snyder listens. EHP Electronic Hearing Protection announces the addition of the new EHD-1 to their line of sound amplification/hearing protection products.

The EHD-1 is the most advanced Behind The Ear ( BTE) unit available and will take outdoor enthusiasts hearing and protection to an entirely new level.

The EHD-1 increases the user’s ability to hear up to ten times their normal hearing yet compresses any sound over 85 db to a safe level. This two channel unit uses digital technology and has a omni-directional microphone located in the front. The EHD-1 has adjustable gain and with the easy to operate adjustable rolling volume control, the user can precisely set the unit for their own individual needs.

The EHD-1 can be set to use either the enhancement function or the telecoil mode with a simple three position selector switch. Each setting has its own unique feature which gives the user the ability to pinpoint sound- even in a noisy environment such as trying to hear range announcements during multiple shooting events or locating the direction of a distant gobble, bugle, or sounds of approaching game. Competition shooters are raving about their ability to hear the shot timer much sooner than their peers who use standard passive hearing protection.

The EHD-1 also has an internal telecoil coil which gives the user the capabilities of wireless communication. This function makes the EHD-1 suitable for cordless and digital telephones as well as walkie-talkie radios that utilize standard single-jack mini-plug connectors. A neck-loop/lapel microphone accessory available through EHD-1 gives the user the freedom of hands-free communication as well as Blue tooth capabilities.

The sophisticated EHD-1 digital technology utilizes a fully digital WDRC (Wide Dynamic Range Compression) amplifier which basically amplifies soft sounds such as leaves rustling from approaching game but does not amplify loud sounds such as the harmful affects of muzzle blast. The adjustable volume control has a maximum gain of over 50 dB which enhances the users normal hearing up to ten times. A noise reduction rating(NRR) of 29 dB coupled with CD-quality sound makes the new EHD-1 the ultimate tool for shooting and outdoor enthusiasts.

The EHD-1 uses one standard #13 Cell Zinc-Air battery and because it contains more efficient digital circuitry, battery life expectancy has surpassed the competition – giving the user up to 380 hours of worry-free unsurpassed sound quality and speech clarity that only digital technology can produce. EHD-1 comes with its own rubberized hard-case. Suggested MSRP is only $289.

Check out the new EHD-1 and the full line of hearing enhancement and protection products at www.ehphearing.com or call 1-(317)502-7942.

Cannon Commander Series Gun Safe

Cannon Safe - Nothing Protects like a Cannon

San Bernardino, Calif. --(Ammoland.com)- The new Cannon Commander Series sets the world standard for how a safe should look and protect.

This luxury-packed safe provides the best combination of features, high security and best-in-class fire protection. The multi-step paint process, silk-screened deluxe graphics and hand-finished pin striping create a handsome look that complements every interior.

The Commander Series features a massive five-and-three-quarter-inch double-steel composite door, double-steel reinforced door frame, surefire multiple re-lockers and one-and-a-half-inch active-locking bolts on the top, side and bottom of the door. Rugged uni-body construction from heavy gauge steel provides superior protection and each safe is predrilled for floor bolting. Safe contents are accessed with a high-security commercial grade Type 1 electronic lock that is backlit and protected with three layers of extra-hard 60+ RC steel hard-plate.

The Commander Series has an Intertek-ETL verified fire rating of 1200° F for 90 minutes and features a triple fin intumescent cold smoke expandable seal and heat-activated door seal that expands when exposed to heat. Additionally a two-step door provides an extra barrier with more ceiling surface.

A state-of-the-art internal power supply system with two 110 power outlets, USB port and RJ45 Ethernet connection keep computers and other electronics charged and connected. The safe’s interior lighting system, with multidirectional LED lights that activate when the door is opened and shut off when closed, provides a bright clear view of the safe’s contents.

The Commander Series also features a deluxe interior with TruRack shelving system that offers barrel down or barrel up gun storage to maximize storage capacity. The fully adjustable plush velour-lined shelving with oak facing and luxury grade upholstery finished wall and inset door panel makes this interior the most attractive on the market. Custom door panel organizer that holds dozens of handguns and accessories is also included.

Model:CO43
Weight:1457 lbs.
Dimensions:72”x40”x28” (depth includes dial and handle)
Gun Capacity:36 (gun capacity can vary depending on gun size)

Model:CO54
Weight:1672 lbs.
Dimensions:72”x50”x28” (depth includes dial and handle)
Gun Capacity:48 (gun capacity can vary depending on gun size)

Cannon is proud to be the only safe company to offer a lifetime, hassle-free, zero cost warranty. If a customer’s safe is ever damaged due to a fire, natural flood, or burglary Cannon will cover all costs including locksmith, freight, etc. to repair or replace the safe, even if the owner is not the original purchaser. To learn why “Nothing Protects Like a Cannon™, visit www.cannonsafe.com.

AmmoLand Gun News

Manasquan, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- If you are in the market for a gun safe in order to secure the firearms in your home, you may be wondering about keypad code vs. combination safes and which one is the best choice.

Each type of safe has its pros and cons, and you should take the time to consider both of them before making your decision.

Gunvault Pistol Gun Safe

Keypad Code
A keypad code gun safe is a thoroughly modern choice for keeping important papers and items safe. When you receive your safe, you can choose the numbers in the combination yourself, so you don’t forget. They also offer extra built-in security protection, as the unit will go into lockdown mode if an incorrect number sequence is entered five times.

Once lockdown mode has been activated, no further attempts to open the safe may be made for at least five minutes. If the correct combination is not entered in the next two attempts, the keypad goes back into lockdown mode again for another five minutes. This feature is meant to guard against the possibility that someone intent on breaking into the safe will simply continue to enter numbers at random until he or she hits on the right one.

The keypad code firearms safe is a great choice for people who need to access the contents of the safe regularly. If you will be using it for business purposes, such as to deposit money taken in during the day until you can take the funds to your bank, the keypad code version is the more convenient way to go.

This style does have its drawbacks, though. The keypad code is a battery-operated unit, and you will need to plan to change the batteries about once every 12 months. You will not be able to access your safe if you enter the combination incorrectly, and it will go into lockdown mode for five minute intervals after a certain number of attempts with an incorrect one.

Another disadvantage with this option is its higher cost compared to a combination gun safe.

Cannon HR Series Gun Safes

Combination Safe
Combination gun safes have been around for over a century and a half, and for good reason. This type of model is a more economical choice than a keypad code safe. As long as the unit is well maintained, it will provide several years of reliable use.

Another advantage of choosing a combination gun safe is that you can set the combination when you receive it and use it for years without the dial offering any indication of what the numbers are, because there is no visible wear or tear. If your goal is to find a highly-durable unit that is not dependent on a battery, then a combination safe definitely has a lot going for it.

The down side of choosing a combination firearms safe for your needs is that you must call in a locksmith if you ever wanted to change the numbers used to open it, or if you for some reason forget the code and can’t get into it. Also, since you have to manually turn the dial to open the safe it is a more time-consuming choice than if you had decided to go with a keypad code model.

If you or anyone who will be operating the safe has trouble with arthritis or other disorders affecting manual dexterity, it could also be challenging to operate it.

Another disadvantage of choosing the combination safe is that it doesn’t automatically go into lockdown mode after a certain number of attempts to open it. When compared to the ease of use of a keypad code model, a combination safe can look like an old clunker in comparison.

When searching for protection either type of safe, can and will serve the basic function of securing your valuables. Consider what features you are looking for in a safe, and then use the pros and cons of each unit to determine which will be better for your needs.

Vern Marker is a freelance writer who loves to write on a variety of subjects including firearms, the outdoors and gun safes.

Federal & American Eagle 45 Auto Ammunition Product Safety Warning

FederalPremium.com

ANOKA, Minn. --(Ammoland.com)- Certain lots of recently manufactured 45 Auto ammunition may contain an incorrect propellant charge.

Use of product from these lots may result in firearm damage and possible serious injury.

DO NOT USE PRODUCT FROM THE FOLLOWING LOTS:

• 38X628 through 38X765
• 38T401 through 38T414

If you have in your possession any 45 Auto with the following brand names and part numbers, check to see if your ammunition package contains the above lots: American Eagle (AE45A, AE45N1, or AE45A250), Champion (WM5233), GoldMedal (GM45B), Hi-Shok (45C, 45D) and Federal Personal Defense (C45C, C45D).

See Example above:

THIS WARNING APPLIES ONLY TO THE LOTS LISTED ABOVE.
If you possess ammunition from any of these lots, or have questions concerning this warning, please contact us at 1-800-831-0850 or 1-800-322-2342 and ask for Product Service. Federal will provide replacement product and will cover the cost of returning the affected product.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- Many of last night’s Super Bowl’s ads promoted the latest Hollywood films, and we’ll no doubt invest many hours watching them.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, suggests investing a fraction of that time watching videos with your children that can help prevent a firearms-related accident. It won’t cost you a ticket or rental fee either.

New, higher-definition versions of NSSF’s three firearms safety videos are available online, including for the first time in its entirety “McGruff on Gun Safety,” the educational video for children in grades K through 6. Also available for viewing are “It’s Your Call: Playing It Safe Around Guns” designed for students in grades 6 though 9, and “Firearm Safety Depends on You,” which provides a review of firearm safety rules for audiences of all ages. All videos can be streamed free of charge at www.nssf.org/safety/video.

NSSF asks that you bring these videos to the attention of your child’s school or teacher, or that you view them with your children so that they understand how to safely respond if they should encounter a firearm in an unsupervised situation.

Teacher discussion guides, safety pledges and classroom activities brochures that complement the student-education videos can be downloaded.

The power of video to teach important safety lessons is as important as its power to entertain. Learn about gun safety with your children today.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NSSF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. Learn about the Foundation’s history here.

Cannon’s Armory Series Safe Brings You Get Maximum Security & Capacity

Cannon Safe - Nothing Protects like a Cannon

San Bernardino, Calif. --(Ammoland.com)- The full-size Cannon Armory Series safes deliver massive gun storage capacity of up to 64 guns with exclusive features and proven fire protection.

The largest safes in the Cannon line, the Armory Series offers a state-of-the-art internal power supply system, premium lighting package and deluxe interior with ample room to store valuables. Built for a lifetime of use with rugged construction, the Armory Series is durable yet refined with a new hammer-tone finish.

The Armory Series features a massive one-inch steel composite door, one-inch active-locking bolts, truelock internal hinges and surefire multiple re-lockers. Rugged uni-body construction from heavy 12-gauge steel provides superior protection and each safe is predrilled for bolting to the floor. Safe contents are accessed with the high-security commercial grade Type 1 electronic lock and three-spoke handle. Three layers of extra-hard 60+ RC steel hard-plate guard the lock from drilling and punching.

The Armory Series has a verified fire rating of 1200° F for 30 minutes by Intertek ETL, the world’s leading fire testing authority and features a triple fin intumescent cold smoke expandable seal that expands when exposed to heat.

A state-of-the-art internal power supply system with two 110 power outlets, USB port and RJ45 Ethernet connection allows keeps computers and other electronics charged and connected. The safe’s interior shelves, walls and inset door panel are beautifully finished with high-grade upholstery. Custom door panel organizer that holds dozens of handguns and accessories is also included.

Model:A48
Weight:856 lbs.
Dimensions:72”x48”x24” (depth includes dial and handle)
Gun Capacity:42 (gun capacity can vary depending on gun size)

Model:A54
Weight:783 lbs.
Dimensions:60”x48”x30” (depth includes dial and handle)
Gun Capacity:64 (gun capacity can vary depending on gun size)

Model:A64
Weight:944 lbs.
Dimensions:72”x48”x30” (depth includes dial and handle)
Gun Capacity:64 (gun capacity can vary depending on gun size)

Cannon is proud to be the only company in the industry to offer a lifetime, hassle-free, zero cost warranty that includes free parts, labor, and freight for repair after a natural flood, attempted break-in, actual break-in or potential fire disaster. To learn why “Nothing Protects Like a Cannon”, visit www.cannonsafe.com.

Hunter Safety Systems

DANVILLE, AL --(Ammoland.com)- In response to high customer demand, Hunter Safety System is pleased to announce the expansion of the popular Ultra Lite harness line with the introduction of the Ultra Lite X-TREME.

The new Ultra Lite X-TREME offers the same popular design as the Ultra Lite with a few added features.

Sporting the popular Realtree APG camouflage, the Ultra Lite X-TREME offers the addition of binocular/rangefinder straps. These straps are conveniently located near the shoulder/chest area and will adjust to fit each hunter individually.

Another change in this harness is that the loops for attachment of a lineman’s climbing strap have been relocated toward the front of the harness, making them easier to use.

Hunter Safety System Ultra Lite Harness To The X-TREME

Like all the Hunter Safety System harnesses, the new Ultra Lite X-TREME comes standard with a lineman’s climbing strap and a suspension-relief strap, which doubles as a deer-drag strap.

Weighing in at only 32 ounces, the new Ultra Lite X-TREME is the ideal harness for anyone who has to travel a long distance to the treestand or who prefers to feel unencumbered while staying safe.

With a suggested retail price of $119.99, the Ultra Lite X-TREME is now available at retailers nationwide.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Danville, Alabama, Hunter Safety System is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative deer hunting gear and hunting equipment for the serious hunter.

For additional information, write to: The Hunter Safety System, 8237 Danville Road, Danville, AL 35619; call toll-free 877-296-3528; or visit www.huntersafetysystem.com.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Eight hunting-related incidents were reported to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 2010, including one that resulted in a death.

Of the incidents, two involved the discharge of a rifle, two involved the discharge of a shotgun, two involved the discharge of a muzzleloader, and one each involved the discharge of a handgun and a fall from an elevated stand.

Injuries were self-inflicted in five incidents and caused by someone else in three.

In four incidents, the cause was careless handling of a firearm and in one each the cause was victim covered by shooter swinging on game, victim in line of fire, dropped firearm, and fall from an elevated stand.

“All of these incidents were preventable,” said Mike Streeter, Nebraska hunter education coordinator.

In the fatal incident last October in Washington County, the 14-year-old shooter was following the 38-year-old victim down a trail. The shooter was carrying a loaded, capped, cocked muzzleloader as he crossed a log. The muzzleloader discharged into the victim’s back.

Hunting incidents resulting in injury or death are rare in Nebraska. The injury rate per 1,000 hunters commonly is lower than .01 percent. Nebraska has about 170,000 hunters each year, and, over the past 10 years, there have been nearly 12 incidents a year. There were 12 incidents, including two fatalities, in 2009.

“Hunting safety is a concern for everyone and Nebraska hunters do an excellent job of ensuring safety each year,” Streeter said. “Safe hunting is no accident. Follow the rules of safe hunting and enjoy the great outdoors in Nebraska.”

For a list of available hunter education classes in Nebraska or to view a full report on the Nebraska 2010 Hunting Incident Report, visit huntsafenebraska.org.

Michigan Coalition For Responsible Gun Owners

Michigan - -(Ammoland.com)- As responsible gun owners we know that guns are not toys and should never be touched by children outside of tightly-supervised training conducted by safety-conscious adults.

Most readers at AmmoLand are NRA members and may be familiar with the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program. Eddie Eagle has been teaching gun safety to younger children (over 21 million so far) since 1988.

Although, in the past, it has been criticized by anti-gun groups as “pro-gun propaganda,” the program does not advocate gun ownership or use. In fact, the rules state that Eddie cannot appear anywhere guns are present.

In the cartoon video, he is never shown holding a gun, or advocating gun use or ownership.

The program simply tells children to follow four simple steps if they encounter a gun unexpectedly: “Stop! Don’t touch! Leave the area! Tell an adult!” Because this is aimed at younger kids (Pre-K through 3rd grade), there is a song and a dance built into the presentation to help reinforce the message.

Simply put, the program might help save the lives of children whose natural curiosity leads them to touch, and experiment with, interesting things they find. It certainly cannot hurt for this training to be available to them.

Because of the common-sense message of the Eddie Eagle program, a bill allowing and encouraging its use state-wide in both public and charter schools passed both houses of the Michigan legislature by wide margins with bi-partisan support.

Now, all that is needed is the Governor’s signature for SB 1402 to become law.

The full text of the bill is included below:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
SEC. 1163.

(1) NOT LATER THAN 1 AUGUST 1, 2011, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP OR ADOPT, AND SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS, 1 OR MORE MODEL PROGRAMS FOR GUN SAFETY INSTRUCTION FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUPILS. THE MODEL PROGRAM SHALL ADOPT OR BE BASED ON THE “EDDIE EAGLE” GUNSAFE ACCIDENT PREVENTION PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

(2) EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY IS ENCOURAGED TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE MODEL GUN SAFETY INSTRUCTION PROGRAM DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (1) IN AT LEAST GRADE 3 BEGINNING IN THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR.

Governor Granholm can be reached by phone at (517) 335-7858 should you wish to urge her to sign SB 1402.

About:
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Formed from just eight people in 1996, we now have thousands of members and numerous affiliated clubs across the state. We’re growing larger and more effective every day.

Our mission statement is: “Promoting safe use and ownership of firearms through education, litigation, and legislation” Visit: www.mcrgo.org

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- Wisconsin ended its 2010 gun-deer season free of hunter fatalities, a feat first and last seen in 1974.

“No one was shot and killed while deer hunting this year in Wisconsin,” said Tim Lawhern, Department of Natural Resources hunter education administrator and conservation warden. “This has happened once before in the state’s history of gun-deer seasons. And that was 36 years ago.”

Overall, there were 12 hunting incidents during the nine-day deer gun season. Lawhern said that for the families of those injured hunters, 2010 didn’t feel like a success. The agency only tracks firearm-related incidents and does not keep track of deaths or injuries due to heart attacks, tree stand falls or other causes.

“Any shooting incident is one too many,” Lawhern said. “We wish them all speedy recoveries.”

Lawhern, who also serves as the president of the International Hunter Education Association, says several factors are behind the successful hunt.

Education, guidelines and technology
High on Lawhern’s list as a key factor behind the second-only fatal-free season in Wisconsin’s history of the gun-deer hunt is the participation in the DNR Hunter Education Program – which began as hunter safety classes in 1967.

“The year before hunter education began in Wisconsin, the incident rate was 44 injuries for every 100,000 hunters,” Lawhern said, adding the 1967 course was six hours long and covered firearm safety only.

Things have changed since 1967.

“Since that time, we have seen things like the creation of opening and closing hours for hunting, mandatory blaze orange for hunters, full safety harnesses, firearm restrictions, global positioning satellite devices, cell phones and more,” he said. “All of these have contributed to the increased safety for hunters.”

Wisconsin’s hunter education certification program became mandatory for all hunters born or after Jan. 1, 1973 in 1985. That meant any hunter 12, the youngest legal hunter, beginning in 1985 had to complete the hunter education program.

“We have certified almost one million graduates. Our program has led the way both nationally – and internationally – with improved delivery, curriculum and outreach regarding safe and responsible hunting,” Lawhern said of the program taught by volunteer instructors statewide.

Wisconsin’s hunter education program has had many firsts, including the nation’s first online course, instructor academy and a junior instructor program.

“The hunter education program also has evolved into more topics including knowledge, responsibility and ethics,” he said.

While the fatal-free season is a victory for safety, Lawhern says it wasn’t a complete surprise.

Predicting the fatal-free season, and the four rules of firearm safety
Lawhern says considering all the progress made in hunting, along with looking at the records behind every shooting incident of past seasons, made it easy to predict the fatal-free season was coming.

“We know a tremendous amount about hunting incidents. We can predict who is going to be shot. We can predict how many, where and what they are going to be doing at that moment,” Lawhern said. “We just don’t have the names and addresses.”

Lawhern’s analysis shows about one-third to one-half of all injuries is related to deer drives. The self-inflicted injuries will be one-third to one half of all the total of the gun-deer season.

“We also know the shooters younger than 18 will make up about 20 to 30 percent of the shooting injuries. The vast majority will occur on private land and half will happen on opening weekend,” he said. “Ultimately, nearly all are linked to a violation of one or more of the four basic rules of firearm safety – treat every firearm as if it is loaded, never point your firearm at a person, never put your finger in the trigger until you are ready to shoot and know what is behind your target.”

And, Lawhern says, the most significant contributors to hunting incidents are those 35 and older – the hunters not covered by the mandat ory hunter education course rule. “All hunters should take the hunter education certification course – no matter the age.”

Safety doesn’t take breaks

“Our hunter education program is revered as one of, if not the best in the country,” Lawhern said, adding most of the volunteer instructors have never experienced a gun-deer season free of fatalities. “Those instructors, along with other factors, are major contributors to the success and safety of hunting.”

The course helps all hunters to make safety a habit.

“Safety does not take a vacation. Either you are safe all the time, every time, or you are not. You are only as safe as the next hunt,” he said.

Lawhern says he hopes those who haven’t completed the hunter education certification course will make it a priority in 2011 to make the next gun-deer season the third fatal-free in the state’s history. More information about hunter safety education is available on the DNR website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern – (608) 266-1317

Altus Brands Rifleman Series Electronic Hearing Protection

Altus Brands

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN --(Ammoland.com)- When it comes to Electronic Hearing Protection/Amplification Systems Altus Brands pretty well has it down.

Their newest entry is the slim, light weight Rifleman ACH series that offers a high NRR of 21 and a crisp, natural sound quality.

The Rifleman ACH is perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Each unit weighs a feather light 8.3 ounces, features a slim, adjustable headband that is easily worn with combat helmets as well as caps and other headgear.

The compact unit folds into itself for easy carry and storage. Each cup is also fitted with Receiver/Input capabilities for: AM/FM Radio, CD or MP3 Player, many FRS radios or electronic communication/entertainment devices using a 3.5 mm ‘mini jack’. Each cup has its own electronics and accepts two standard AAA batteries.

Altus Brands Company spokesman Charles Ricci announced: “The Rifleman Series is a rugged line of electronic hearing protection/amplification muffs. They are comfortable to wear even for long periods of time to amplify low sounds and protect the user against loud noises such as machinery and firearms. This series is made with the firearms shooting/tactical professional in mind but is perfect for use under most high noise environments.”

Altus Brands, LLC also owns Pro Ears Electronic Hearing Protection/Amplification products, BenchMaster Rifle Rests, Crossfire Slings, Cass Creek Calls, Bughats, American Bison Leather and Woodland Whisper.

For more information/Dealer inquiries please contact: