The ladies FREE shooting event will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, and Sunday, July 30, 2023, at both the Top Gun Shooting Sports (22050 Pennsylvania Road in Taylor, Michigan) and Recoil Firearms (22509 Ecorse Road in Taylor, Michigan).
There will be no charge for the Firearm Instructor’s safety briefing, the usage of a firearm, ammunition, and range time. Participation is 100 percent free for all attendees. No prior firearms training or experience is required of the women who desire to take advantage of the lesson. Further, experienced women merely desiring to improve their marksmanship skills are also welcome to attend.
The Alien Gear Driver Defense holster has an optional
thumb release for extra retention security.
The moment I sat down I knew something wasn’t quite right. The holster pinched against my body and my pistol now pointed directly through my legs. Add a seatbelt over top and there’s no way I would be able to wrangle the pistol out with any efficiency.
So much emphasis is placed on where and how to carry on your person that carrying inside a vehicle — the thing that gets you to the places you intend to carry — is forgotten. Many just set their firearm in a glove box or center console. Not only is the handgun unsecure in these areas, but it may shift during travel and be out of reach of the driver. It could also be in reach of someone else who is underage or not licensed to carry, presenting a potential legal problem.
Travel Challenges
Every state has different laws and it’s your responsibility to be aware of them. This is of particular importance when traveling through different locales. The United States Concealed Carry Association’s (USCCA) website has a reciprocity map that greatly simplifies the process. Rather than scour dozens of websites for specific information, the USCCA has collected it all in one place. You don’t have to be a member to utilize this interactive map, which is regularly updated. (The date of update is shown at the top of each page.) A colored map populates to show where your permit is valid, where it is not and where it is with restrictions. Scrolling down details your state’s laws for carrying in a vehicle and at roadside rest areas.
Over the past year, I have been traveling more. Experience has opened my eyes to problems I never foresaw. Carrying inside a vehicle is much like carrying on your body: One size does not fit all. On a long road trip, I started out wearing a belly band and keeping the handgun within reach as a passenger. I ended up removing the belly band because it was uncomfortable, only wearing it when I left the car to use a rest stop or get gas. When it was my turn to drive, I did not have access to my firearm. One state I traveled through didn’t honor my concealed carry permit. I was permitted to have a concealed handgun inside the vehicle because I had a license from my home state, but not outside — not even at roadside rest areas. I used a lockbox to secure my firearm in these situations.
The Hornady Keypad Vault slides neatly under the driver’s seat.
Car Travel Challenges
I quickly realized the value of a lockbox. I started with a small one that barely held my pistol. It opened with a barrel key and secured under the driver’s seat by a metal cable. Someone could cut through it, but they’d have to come prepared with specific tools. If driving through a state that doesn’t allow concealed carry inside a vehicle, a lockbox provides a safe and secure option that keeps the firearm out of reach. Other times, you can’t have your firearm on your person, or you choose not to, but don’t want to leave it unattended.
During a recent trip, I needed to access the lockbox in the dark. It was black underneath the driver’s seat; the small automatic lights above the center console didn’t quite cut it. I struggled to be inconspicuous and situationally aware at the same time. I couldn’t see the box, but could feel it with my hand. I fumbled with the key. I would have felt better with my headlights on, but my car key was linked to the same ring as the lockbox barrel key. Once I opened the box, I had to find the pistol by feel and load it in the dark. All this time, I felt extra vulnerable. Though only minutes, it felt like hours.
Hornady’s Keypad Vault can be used in the home, office or car.
The Hornady Keypad Vault can fit a full-size and compact handgun
with room to spare. Or store one along with extra magazines.
The Keypad Vault uses a touchpad security device
allowing four- and six-digit combinations.
An internal light really helps when accessing the vault in the dark.
Hornady Keypad Vault
I now use the Hornady Keypad Vault. It has the same function as my prior lockbox, but is far easier and more spacious. The box is made of 16-gauge steel, complete with a security cable. It can be opened with a barrel key, but also with a programmable keypad — powered by four AA batteries — that accepts four- and six-digit codes. If you enter the incorrect code, the light turns red and an alarm sounds. It is certainly annoying and likely a deterrent to anyone trying to access the interior. What I appreciated most was the extra room and an automatic light. The light eliminates my former problem, while the spacious interior can hold more than one pistol, ammunition and other valuables. The keypad is not only convenient, but it also allows someone else you trust to access the box if need be, without the key.
The Keypad Vault is a great way to safely leave your firearm in the vehicle for those occasions you can’t take it inside.
Auto Access Options
What about protection while driving? Some people still toss their firearm in a glove box or console, but within a holster. This still does not make it efficient to draw, as there is no opposing force because the holster isn’t anchored. The rig will also not have a consistent orientation for the draw. You’d need two hands, at least one of which is likely still on the wheel.
Options like Alien Gear’s Hook and Loop holster turn nearly any flat surface into a mounting location. This may be the inside of a glove box or area beside your steering wheel. Glove boxes and center consoles may be lockable, but in the time of an emergency, especially with another passenger present, it can be hard to reach and obvious. How many times have you tried to grab sunglasses but your passenger’s elbow is holding the console hostage? Keep in mind you may need a holster with a reverse draw to your dominant hand, depending upon where you decide to mount your gun.
The Hook and Loop holster presents an option to mount
your firearm on nearly any surface.
The entire holster “punch” comes off the mounting system
for use on a belt or in the home.
Carry for the Draw
Dozens of options exist for vehicle carry, but keep in mind every vehicle model is different, as is the preference of the driver. If you are planning to resell your vehicle, or if it’s a rental or lease, drilling holes into the car is not an option.
Alien Gear’s ShapeShift holster line offers a variety of on- and off-body carry options utilizing the same pieces, minimizing cost. I was particularly impressed with the ShapeShift Driver Defense holster. This system utilizes adjustable thick straps threaded through your car seat to hold a mount that rests between your legs — no drilling or permanent car modifications required. I was skeptical at first, wondering if my legs would hit the holster, or if the straps would be uncomfortable to sit on. I did have an issue hitting the holster when exiting the vehicle, but this is only because I’m short and my seat is pushed nearly all the way up … Retention is adjustable, but jostling and hitting the holster did not knock the gun loose. A thumb release placed where my thumb naturally falls during draw released the pistol smoothly. It is also not easily visible to anyone outside the vehicle and the holster can be taken off, leaving the straps intact
if desired.
When I started driving, my best friend Liam threw a fit when he realized I carried nothing with me in my car. No emergency supplies, no way to break the window and so on. Looking out for me in his own way, he brought over a flashlight and tactical pen and demanded I put them in my car. I never forgot it and left the Big Larry flashlight in my glove box ever since. It has a strobe, but I always thought of it as just for light if the car broke down or I needed to see. Only recently have I realized how disorienting light can be in a self-defense situation.
The trickiest things about carrying inside a vehicle are being mindful of changing laws driving cross country, being able to access the arm while driving and ensuring it remains out of reach of others. I use a combination of all the above — it doesn’t hurt to have options.
Bass Pro Shop’s Background Check Policy Raises Questions, iStock-1411835563
U.S.A. — Cecil Trimble, a 35-year-old restaurant manager, took a fishing reel to Bass Pro Shop’s Tampa store last week to be spooled with new line. As he was waiting, he wandered over to the gun department and immediately spotted the object of his recent desire.
Trimble had been searching for a Sig P365 X Macro for weeks. The problem was, so had everybody else. Bass Pro wanted around $800 for the 9mm. Trimble didn’t hesitate. He told the salesperson he wanted it, completed a Form 4473, and handed over his Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License, which exempts him from a waiting period. Trimble had purchased numerous firearms from Bass Pro Shop in the past, so he expected to walk out of the store with his new pistol in minutes.
“The clerk came over and told me, ‘The ATF has approved you, but we’re denying the purchase,’” Trimble told the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project earlier this week.
Astonished, Trimble demanded to know what was going on. The salesperson said Trimble’s brother-in-law had tried to buy a firearm at the store a month ago but self-denied on the 4473, most likely because he misread a question. Unfortunately, Trimble’s brother-in-law, who had lived with him several years ago, moved out but never changed the address on his driver’s license.
“I asked the clerk how this had anything to do with me, and he said it was Bass Pro’s policy not to sell any firearms to anyone living at the same address as someone who has been denied,” Trimble said. “He hasn’t lived there for three or four years. I get the straw purchase thing, but he tried to buy a $200 revolver and I was trying to buy an $800 9mm.”
“The firearms manager agreed with me but could not get the GM of compliance on the phone to talk this out,” Trimble said. “As it stands now, I or anyone living at my address are barred from buying firearms from Bass Pro ever again.”
Trimble pointed out his brother-in-law is retired military, a Florida CWFL holder, and not a prohibited person. He must have misread a question on the Form 4473, Trimble said. The staff wouldn’t relent.
“My main gripe is this: what if I moved into an apartment and the previous tenant was denied. According to Bass Pro, I couldn’t disprove it’s not a straw purchase, and I can never buy a gun from them again,” Trimble said.
Bass Pro’s response
Neither Bass Pro Shop’s corporate communications staff nor Jarron Ritchie, general manager of the Tampa facility, responded to multiple calls or emails seeking their comments for this story.
Calls to Bass Pro’s firearm compliance directors were referred to their corporate communications staff, who did not respond.
Multiple calls to the Tampa store’s gun department finally produced a brief interview with “Joe,” who said he was one of the store’s managers. Joe did not provide his last name.
At first, he tried to blame the ATF, but he later admitted, “We do keep a data log on this.” However, he would not discuss or disclose their corporate background check policy.
“Again, sir, we are talking about things that I, at the store level, am not allowed to go into,” Joe said.
Takeaways
It’s important to remember that a gun dealer can refuse to transfer a firearm to anyone for any reason. In fact, they don’t need a reason to refuse a sale.
Also, the Biden-Harris administration has declared war on gun dealers. Federal Firearm License (FFL) revocations have increased by more than 500% since Biden took office. If the ATF was able to revoke the FFL of a big-box gun store like Bass Pro, the results would be cataclysmic for the store and its customers. Therefore, it is easy to understand why the sporting goods chain would want to be very careful when transferring firearms.
Still, Bass Pro’s straw purchase fears do not make much sense in this case. Straw purchases usually happen within 72 hours of a denial – not a month later – and nearly all of them involve the same gun – not a $200 revolver and then an $800 9mm.
Trimble was able to find and purchase a P365 from a local gun store the next day. The whole ordeal reminded him of another corporate mishap.
“Remember when Dick’s became anti-gun? This could be a slippery slope like Dick’s went through,” Trimble said. “They’re not preventing straw purchases. I answered that question on a federal form, which should be good enough. Bass Pro told me I’d get a call back from them the next day. I’m still waiting for that call.”
Legally, Bass Pro can concoct whatever policies they want, but they also should be willing to explain them when asked by the public. Even at the height of their lunacy, Dick’s still managed to do that.
This story is presented by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and wouldn’t be possible without you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support more pro-gun stories like this.
About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
It’s a pretty good bet that unless you live in or around Fargo, North Dakota you didn’t hear about the terrorist attack foiled by police there on July 14 this year. Rookie officer Jake Wallin was killed by Mohamad Barakat. Barakat wounded two police officers and a woman bystander before being killed by another officer, Zach Robinson. The spokesperson for the city known as the Gateway to the West is being mighty obtuse and cagey about Barakat’s motive for having 1800 rounds of ammunition in his car.
For most Americans, our sum total knowledge about Fargo is from the movie Fargo. Sheriff Marge Gunderson might have had a clue about Barakat’s motive, right? Especially given the clues.
Unless you are a clueless Attorney General, that is. Here is what North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in his press conference:
“That such events could transpire in the wake of a fender bender, a fender bender in Fargo, North Dakota,” said Wrigley.
Well, who would guess some rando with an SUV would cause a mass casualty event in Waukesha, Wisconsin at a Christmas Parade? Wake, the heck, up! Where on Earth do they find these nimrods?
That Friday afternoon in Fargo there was a Downtown Street Fair. There was a fender-bender in an area outside of the Street Fair. Barakat was, presumably on his way to the street fair, but was stymied by the minor car accident. We’ll let Fox 9 take the story from here:
When he came upon a fender bender last Friday afternoon, Barakat was armed with multiple weapons, explosives and grenades and had spray painted the back windows of his car.
“Based on the time and the direction he was going he was either likely to be taking a right when he got to main avenue going downtown and taking a left when he got to main avenue and going to the fairgrounds,” Wrigley said.
Video footage reveals he came upon the crash, circling and casing the scene for about 15 minutes before parking his car and opening fire, killing 23-year-old officer Jake Wallin and critically injuring officers Andrew Dotas and officer Tyler Hawes, as well as, civilian Karlee Koswick (who was involved in the initial car accident).
Barakat was eventually shot by officer Zach Robinson and later died at the hospital.
Back it up there, spray painted the back window of his car, wow, but let’s talk about the multiple weapons part. This guy was looking to take out a lot of people:
Once Mohamed Barakat was taken down, the bomb squad was called in for searches of the suspect vehicle and residence. Wrigley says the bomb squad K9 hit on the vehicle and at Barakat’s apartment. Investigators say the following items were found inside the vehicle at the scene of the shooting: 3 containers fill with gas, 2 propane tanks filled with homemade explosives, a homemade grenade, 4 semi-automatic handguns and 3 semi-automatic long rifles. The gun used to shoot the officers and civilian had a binary trigger.
A search warrant was obtained for Barakat’s residence and the FBI was on standby to execute the search of his apartment. Wrigley says they discovered two shotguns, a Remington deer rifle, a .223 rifle, handguns, live ammunition, a variety of grenade parts, several trail cameras, several phones and a computer.
Forensics experts with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation say Mohamed Barakat has no social media presence and appears to have had very little interaction with people. Wrigley and the U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota both said, they have no evidence at this time that indicates a further threat to the community.
Many, many of the articles I read were hyperventilating over the binary trigger. Heck I might need a binary trigger
:What is a binary trigger? An aftermarket trigger for semi-automatic guns that allows one round to be fired upon the trigger pull and a single round to be fired as the trigger springs back AKA binary shooting or double tap. The binary trigger will enable you to shoot twice as fast with the same amount of work, making for a fun but short day at the range or shooting practice.
Many people are concerned that a binary trigger transforms their gun into a fully-automatic firearm. However, by the ATF’s definition of machine guns, this is not the case, and binary triggers are legal in most states (more on that later).
I might be overwrought by the FBI arresting Gradmas who violated the Capitol on January 6, but never seem to have these people on their radar? From PJ Media:
But why did Barakat want to carry out a “mass shooting event”? The Star Tribune says that “the motive for his actions remains unclear.” Mac Schneider, U.S. attorney for the district of North Dakota, said this past Friday that “if there was clear evidence of motive we would share it.” North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley added that “the shooting was not motivated by religious beliefs.”
Maybe not, but there is an extremely odd detail in the Star Tribune report: “Wrigley said a federal ‘guardian report’ was made some years back” about Barakat, “but it was not about a threat of violence. Schneider described a Guardian report as a way for the public to ‘engage local law enforcement.’”
That’s not exactly a full or honest description of what a Guardian report really is. As Twitter user ThunderB, who has been following this case closely and has an abundance of useful information on his or her Twitter page, points out, the Guardian system is officially
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Terrorist Threat and Suspicious Incident Tracking System.” In this context, a “suspicious incident” is clearly terror-related: “Shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks, three FBI field offices began using an application called the Terrorist Activity Reporting System to track and monitor terrorist threats and suspicious incidents.”
What was in the Guardian report about Mohamad Barakat? Why isn’t the report being revealed now? Would it reveal that officials have been lying about his not being on their radar, and demonstrate their failure to stop yet another jihadi as they intensify their hunt for “right-wing extremists,” that is, their efforts to stigmatize and criminalize legitimate political dissent?
A cop murdering, potential terrorist is dead. Good. I am peeved that the FBI, once again, let us down. The media doesn’t want to talk about this averted attack from a Syrian Nationalist, or the dead Muslim cop killer. The guy from the Religion of Peace who as searching the internet for information on mass casualty events as far back as 2018. Nothing to see here.
I do want to talk about the brave law enforcement officers who arrived on the scene:
Officer Zach Robinson who deaded the terrorist, was field training Zach Wallin who died. Wallin, who was cremated in his police uniform, served with the Minnesota Army National Guard and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Robinson was a college graduate with a wife and child.
God bless our law enforcement officers and fie on those at the top who talk but don’t do or, worse, ignore the danger.
