I have enjoyed good results with Rost Martin pistols. The RM1C has proven reliable, and the ported RM1S is an especially good shooter. The newest Rost Martin, the RM1F, is a departure from those…

A loud, clear command given at the beginning of a self-defense incident can deter aggressors and alert bystanders to your need for help. That’s why verbal warnings are an important part of any…

The Second Amendment community is excited that the Supreme Court will soon decide whether so-called “assault weapon” bans are constitutional, taking up an issue that could affect gun laws well beyond…

Back-to-school season always seems to come with a list: lunchbox, water bottle, pencils, folders, new shoes. Maybe a calculator. Definitely more glue sticks than any household should reasonably need.…

The new Taurus RPC is getting quite a bit of attention. The pistol has been sold out at many outlets but was becoming more available as of July 2026. As with many new designs that use a proprietary…

When you have kids, your approach to self-defense and home defense changes. After all, there’s no choice but to rethink your methods to account for small humans who may or may not do as they’re told or who may be too young to follow — or even remember — directions.

If you’re considering carrying a firearm for personal protection, one of the first questions you may have is whether you need a concealed carry permit. The answer depends largely on where you live.…

Some time back, I had the chance to shoot my friend Bret’s Staccato C2 2011 9mm Combat Pistol. Bret was the first one I knew to own one. I came away with a great deal of respect for the pistol. It…

Hiding a firearm is not the same as securing it. A gun stored in a drawer, hollowed-out book or disguised piece of furniture may be out of sight, but it could still be accessible to children,…

Several years ago, I had a former student reach out to me to share an experience she had. She was at a local shopping mall and started to feel uncertain and uncomfortable. Remembering our training…

Defensive gun use is one of the most frequently cited topics in the debate over firearms in America. Supporters of gun rights often point to estimates suggesting firearms are used defensively…

Carry optics, also known as pistol-mounted optics or red-dot sights, are becoming increasingly popular because they make accurate shooting easier. However, moving from iron sights to a carry optic…

The old adage of “buy once, cry once” is everywhere in gun media. The idea is simple: You pour every penny into a gun one time, then you’re set for life. Conversely, if you go cheap, you’re clearly…

Just because you live an active lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to forgo bringing along your carry gun. While the holster option you typically rely on daily may not be suitable for the activity you…

Modern shooters searching for a self-defense handgun that is not too big or too small but is just right have a far wider variety than when I became a reserve deputy in Ohio in 1980. Finding a pistol with manageable recoil but adequate capacity back then often meant making compromises.

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, it’s become easier than ever for shooters to enter the suppressor world. While the purchase process has become far more accessible, choosing the…

Protecting your family now requires more than securing your home and remaining aware of your physical surroundings. Smartphones, social media, online shopping, connected devices and public Wi-Fi can…

A defensive pistol should be as close to flawlessly reliable as possible, easy to operate and comfortable to shoot. You can purchase the most reliable pistol on the market, but if that pistol doesn’t…

I’ve been using laser sights on my defensive handguns and AR-15s since 1995. I think guns mounted with laser sights are the best option in low light because they do not obstruct the user’s view. I’ve…

The short answer is yes … in some states. Whether you can legally carry a firearm without a permit depends on the laws where you are carrying. Today, many states have adopted constitutional carry,…