Gun Safety

What To Include In Your School Backpack or Daypack

What should you consider including in your pack or your kid's backpack? A look at the important EDC items for any student in any grade or school.

Holster Retention Levels and Why it Matters

Almost exclusively my method of carrying is concealed, using an inside the waistband (IWB) holster in the appendix position. There are rare times I may carry concealed in an outside the waistband…

Concealed Carry Laws and Tactics for Hotels

Hotels are a necessary part of almost all leisure and business travel. Here we review the policies of most of the major Hotel chains and the best practices for securing and storing a firearm in a Hotel.

Why You Should Consider the AR-15 For Your Home Defense Gun

The capabilities and limitations of the AR-15 are generally misunderstood by most people. I am not going to rehash the whole semi-auto vs fully auto, or the ridiculous ‘military-grade' label…

BONUS Episode: The CCW Lifestyle with Klint Macro

Today Riley and Jacob play back an interview they did with Klint Macro of Trigger Pressers Union and National Train a Teacher Day. Klint is big on the concealed carry lifestyle. We get into what that is, what it looks like for responsible gun owners and carriers. Klint will also be our special monthly Guardian Nation Live Broadcast Event and Q&A on July 31, 2018 at 7pm MT. Guardian Nation members can join by logging into their dashboard in the member's area, clicking on the GN Live button, and finding the unique link to join the broadcast. 3 lucky winners will get a special prize just for being present during the broadcast!!

Vehicle Firearm Storage and Secure Transportation

You need a good way to secure the firearm in the vehicle simply because you will go places where you can either NOT have your firearm with you or you will be required to transport it in a secure way. Examples include…

Episode 242: MEGA Q&A Session!!!

Today Riley and Matthew do a LONG OVERDUE Q&A session for podcast listeners. We will answer a BUNCH of listener-submitted questions that came in through the podcast question “hotline” as well as answer any questions from live Facebook viewers that we get. Tune in!!

The Ultimate Dummy Ammunition Head to Head Review

Dry Fire Practice continues to grow among all levels of shooters as a way to increase skills without the high cost of live ammunition. Recently our own Matthew Maruster published…

Episode 237: Child Finds Gun in Sofa at IKEA

Today Riley and Matthew cover the latest in industry news, legislative updates, and share this week's top JUSTIFIED SAVE stories from around America. Plus you won't want to miss this week's Case of the Week from attorney Andrew Branca of Law of Self-Defense where we learn what happens when you take things too far in a self-defense case.

Episode 235: Wild Week in America for Self Defense

Today Riley and Matthew cover the latest in industry news, legislative updates, and share this week's top JUSTIFIED SAVE stories from around America. Plus you won't want to miss this week's Case of the Week from attorney Andrew Branca of Law of Self-Defense where we get some clarification on when the commission of a crime will or will not bar you from being able to use self-defense.

Episode 233: Big Time Gun Control Coming to New Jersey

Today Riley and Jacob cover the latest in industry news, legislative updates, and share this week's top JUSTIFIED SAVE stories from around America. Plus you won't want to miss this week's Case of the Week from attorney Andrew Branca of Law of Self-Defense where we learn what can potentially happen when your fired shots miss an attacker and strike innocent bystanders.

Episode 231: ‭Maybe Appendix Carry Isn't Safe After All

Today Riley and Jacob share the latest news, stories and information from the firearms and concealed carry industry. Today's news features stories about the recent assault weapons ban in Boulder, Colorado; the Santa Fe, Texas school shooting; the gun control debate rages on “healthier” than ever including the call to ban “ghost guns” as well. But more importantly we share the latest JUSTIFIED SAVES that have occurred and what lessons we can take from those!

Episode 230: Getting Kids Into Shooting From a Young Age

Today Riley and Matthew interview Nami and her dad. She is a 12-year-old girl who is being taught from an early age about firearm safety, shooting, and is getting into competition shooting as well. Nami and her parents have also received some criticism for encouraging her to pursue the firearms sports. We'll ask about that as well.

Draw the Gun Straight Up Out of the Holster

My Controversial Stance On Re-holstering

I have heard many instructors tell their students this: You have to be able to re-holster your firearm without looking down at your holster. My opinion on re-holstering is different than what many have been teaching for quite some time.

Simple and Effective: Why You Need to Use Dummy-Rounds

Additionally using a magazine filled with dummy rounds more closely replicates the weight of your loaded firearm for more realistic practice. And dummy rounds in the magazine keep the slide from locking to the rear while you practice clearing stoppages and performing magazine reloads.

Episode 220: Arming Teachers, What an Actual Teacher Thinks

Today, Riley and Matthew talk with an educator in Georgia about strategies for protecting and defending our students and schools including the ever touchy issue of “arming teachers.” Plus what other tools should we consider providing schools and educators beyond firearms?

Pepper Spray For EDC | Good or Bad Idea?

Pepper spray or OC spray can be a good defensive tool in situations where carrying a firearm is prohibited or unpractical. But understand, OC spray is not a magic wand that stops attackers in their tracks and send then running for the hills. Attackers can…

5 Things Gun People Say That Make My Blood Boil [Updated]

There are a handful of things that I hear often in the gun community that are either out right wrong or tend to communicate the wrong message. Here are a few that I really don't like.

Bonus Episode: Realistic Training Exercises and How to Get Something Out of Them with Tony Lambraia

In this special bonus episode, we play back the interview Riley and Jacob were able to do with Tony Lambraia, Vice-President of UTM Worldwide. We talk about the training munitions products that UTM has to offer and what makes the difference between force-on-force training being awesome or mediocre. How do we get something out of various realistic training exercises? Lots of meat on the bone in today's episode.

Bonus Episode: Thoughts on Training & Safety With Fiocchi's Buel Collins

In this special bonus episode, we play back the interview Riley and Jacob were able to do with Buel Collins, Marketing Manager with Fiocchi Ammunition. What we really appreciate about Buel is that he doesn't just work in the firearms/ammunition industry. He eats, drinks, and sleeps it! He really knows how to shoot and takes it seriously enough to seek out dozens of training hours each year with respected firearms instructors. We found his insight valuable about training and also the importance of making sure a person is comfortable with a firearm with regards to safety BEFORE moving forward with anything else.

The NRA Is Killing Our Kids?

Not only is shouting and disparaging someone not a great way to persuade them, it often times has the exact opposite effect. Galvanizing them in their opinion and reaffirming…

Do You Want to Argue Politics, Or Make Our Schools Safer?

The solution to ending school shootings does not rest in the hands of Congress. Again and again I hear there needs to be a ‘conversation' about how to prevent school…

Guide To A Successful Day At The Range

Nothing boggles my mind quite like some of the stuff I see at the range. Take heed to some of my tips to have a successful day at the range,…

Mixing Painkillers and Concealed Carry

Recently I saw a comment on one of our articles about prescription drugs and carrying a gun and figured I'd add some thoughts, here. In a nutshell, the man wrote…

Episode 188: Avoid These 8 Training Scars

Listen to this replay of Episode 70 where Riley and Jacob discuss 8 common training scars (or what we have dubbed muscle memory mistakes–MMM's). Avoid these at all costs

How To Load Your Magazines With Ease

The task of inserting cartridges into a magazine can sometimes be difficult. I wanted to help those of you who struggle with filling your magazines, by putting together a little…

Episode 187: Lots of New Guns…And New Gun Control

Riley and Jacob talk about the latest in industry news along with our popular JUSTIFIED defensive gun use stories. Today we feature news where a bunch of new guns have been announced, slated to soon hit the market. Also some further gun control is being looked at in Denver, Colorado. Plus the ammo control laws passed in California a little more than a year went into effect this week, and boy are gun owner's lives about to change in the The Golden State as it just became a lot more difficult to purchase ammunition. You're also not going to want to miss the shocking story of just how bad crime in the U.K. has become with muggings and assaults being committed at an incredible rate, many of them with…knives.

Episode 186: Gary Ramey of Honor Defense Talks About the Honor Guard Drop Safety

Today Riley and Jacob have Gary Ramey on the program from Honor Defense which has been under fire in recent days due to videos emerging suggesting the Honor Guard 9mm pistols may not be as drop safe as gun owners would like. We also discuss about a couple of fantastic articles written by an experienced trauma surgeon who explains the myths and misconceptions about “stopping power.”

Dropping the Honor Guard 9mm: What We Discovered [VIDEO]

UPDATE: Below is an article we published when we confirmed findings about the Honor Guard discharging when dropped. In a relatively short period of time after this finding, Honor Defense…

Episode 184: Analysis of the 2014 Las Vegas Walmart-Cici's Pizza Shooting

Today Jacob is back on the program with Riley. Today we take a few questions from listeners before we dive in on a detailed analysis of the June 2014 shooting that took place at a Las Vegas Cici's Pizza and Walmart. Many lessons to be learned from this situation that cost 2 police officers their lives and the life of a good samaritan concealed carrier. Don't miss this one!!!

Episode 183: New Gun Confiscation Law in New York?

Today Riley and Rob Beckman discuss the latest in concealed carry law and news including some legislative updates that could mean major positive gains for CCWers in Ohio and North Dakota. At the same time, unfortunately, New York Governor Cuomo is talking about establishing a new law that could mean major gun confiscations from individuals to the likes not before seen there. Also some JUSTIFIED stories including one a store clerk has to disarm a robber to save his life and the incredible scene that follows next!

Why You Really Should Be Conducting a Press Check

Ahhh the press check. Is it a lost art? A useless technique only used by crusty old gunfighters of yesterday? Or a necessary procedure that we all should be doing?…

Episode 181: 5 Stories Where “Victims” Refused to be Victims

This last week has been a busy one! The U.S. House passed H.R. 38 packaged together with the Fix NICS bill. One Hawaiian police department says they will not enforce the law where it comes to confiscating firearms from or charging owners that also use marijuana. One college cancels a speech by a 2nd Amendment activist deeming it as being “too controversial.” And we have 5 JUSTIFIED stories lined that you just gotta hear including the one where a female bystander saves the life of a cop by intervening with her own legally carried concealed handgun!

Episode 179: People Couldn't Believe The Blood Was Real!

Today's stories are a must-hear! A couple of critical bills just past through the House Judicial Committee and will be going up for a House vote in the next day or so, and one of them is a big mistake! 4 incredible JUSTIFIED stories will teach some really important lessons including the story of yet another pizza delivery driver that is attacked and is forced to defend himself in a gunfight. A photo of bright red blood on the ground was the result of a man who accidentally shot himself with his Taurus Judge, and because there was so much blood and it was so brightly colored, the photo “broke the Internet” as people were left skeptical that is was even a real photo to begin with. But Riley has the scoop on the true, real-life story that will blow your mind and really drives home how important tourniquets are where it comes to saving lives.

What Do You Do? Defensive Gun Use While Holding Your Child!

With the high number of surveillance cameras in use, we get a chance to see things we would never have before, such as, this video of an off-duty Brazilian Military…

Episode 176: Training in Adverse Conditions

In today's episode Riley shares a couple of audio clips with some great tips and ideas. Cold weather is upon us for many across the country, and regardless if it is the cold or wet or whatever, training is important to do especially during those times when weather may be less than ideal. Listen to today's episode for tips about how to handle that. Also Matthew Maruster shares some thoughts about holster dangers to look out for and the importance of holster inspection and maintenance. Also Riley gives a raving review on the new XS Sights F8 Night Sights, find out what makes them so great!

Episode 174: The Great Debate About Law Enforcement Interactions

In today's episode we take and answer several questions and address topics we received from listeners. Check out today's episode for information about 2nd Amendment rights versus party politics, home lighting and security and some strategies involving new home technology that could help you in an invasion. We also talk about a particular holster that we think has some challenges. Finally, Riley and Jacob get into it a little bit about what's the best way to interact with law enforcement particularly in a traffic stop situation.

Everyday Tactical: 5 Situational Awareness Tips

The tips I present are intended to help the responsible gun carrying citizen be best prepared to survive a deadly force encounter.

Episode 172: Retention – 8 Times Gun Owners Lost Their Guns & Lost the Fight

Jacob & Riley review 8 different instances where Concealed Carriers had their guns taken off of them in an encounter primarily due to retention issues. How can you prevent this from happening to you?

Episode 170: Priorities, Positions and Paths – Fighting In and Around Vehicles

Riley and Jacob recorded this special episode while they were on their way back from Utah where they spent a few days filming and putting together a special vehicle fighting and tactics course. In this episode you're going to want to listen closely to the 3 P's – Priorities, Positions and Paths. Understanding these concepts and how they play into scenarios inspired by real-life events may one day save your life.

Episode 168: Jogging In Las Vegas With Gun Holstered in Safe

In this episode Riley and Jacob take 3 questions submitted by listeners and break them down with their answers. Which holster is a good choice for jogging? What do we know about response times in Las Vegas? And should you store your gun holstered in the safe and/or with a round chambered?

What You Need to Know About the Bump Fire Stock Used in the Las Vegas Mass Shooting

Details of the Las Vegas massacre are becoming available. Las Vegas police confirmed that during the attack, the shooter used semi-automatic rifles equipped with ‘bump fire stocks.' If you are…

Scanning for Multiple Threats, You May be Doing it Wrong [Video]

Bad guys, especially organized and motivated ones, like those pulling off bank robberies, home invasions, kidnappings, and terrorist acts often roll in packs. So scanning and assessing the area for…

Episode 156: Mass Shooting Recovery – Interview with Andy Brown Part 2

Part 2 of 2: If you missed episode #154, Part 1 of this interview with Andy Brown, please go back and listen to it now! This is a truly special episode today. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Andy Brown, author of the book Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base. This book is a recounting of two tragic events that happened within days of each other at Fairchild AFB–a B-52 bomber crash and an active shooting that killed 5 and wounded many more. Andy was the man, then an Air Force Security Police airman (now known as Security Forces), who stopped the individual responsible for the heinous attack at the base hospital. It is not often you get to hear first hand from a man with his kind of experience and knowledge, so tune in, take some notes, and determine what you need to do to better prepare for your worst-case scenario.

Episode 154: Stopping an Active Shooter – Interview with Andy Brown Part 1

This is a truly special episode today. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Andy Brown, author of the book Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base. This book is a recounting of two tragic events that happened within days of each other at Fairchild AFB–a B-52 bomber crash and an active shooting that killed 5 and wounded many more. Andy was the man, then an Air Force Security Police airman (now known as Security Forces), who stopped the individual responsible for the heinous attack at the base hospital. It is not often you get to hear first hand from a man with his kind of experience and knowledge, so tune in, take some notes, and determine what you need to do to better prepare for your worst-case scenario.

Episode 150b: Cognitive Stack…Interview with Mark Passamaneck

In this final part of a 2 Part interview, Riley sits down with Mark Passamaneck of Carbon Arms and discusses a wide variety of topics. But we especially break down in this episode why the brain works the way it does, what cognitive stack means for you as a shooter, and how you can maximize your performance and training.

Episode 150a: Why Guns Blow Up! Interview with Mark Passamaneck

In this Part 1 episode of a 2 Part interview, Riley sits down with Mark Passamaneck of Carbon Arms and discusses a wide variety of topics. Mark is an forensic engineer, which means he figures out why bad things happen involving mechanical and other physical things. We talk about blowing up muzzleloaders, AR-15's, Glocks and other stuff. But we also get into what Mark sees as the most important shooting fundamentals or challenges and how we can train most effectively. It all leads up to a powerful second part of the interview. Don't miss it!!