We had such a good time hanging out with the awesome chicks of Women’s Tactical Association and Alpha Girls on this shoot.  Kim Heath is one of their bright shining stars up there in Chicago. This girl is the quintessential badass with a sense of humor as quick as those cat-like reflexes she uses to serve and protect as a police officer in Illinois. I have also personally seen this chick walk a high-fashion runway with ease and style. Expect much more from her at NRA Women’s Network.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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Jessie and Natalie at NRA Annual Meeting 2012.

Not only is she a champion shooter and a super cool chick, but it turns out Jessie Duff is a fantastic gun rights ambassador to the media. Below are a couple of clips from some of Jessie’s recent appearances on FOX News. Be sure to check out her Facebook page and Twitter feed as well (@Jessie_Duff) for updates on what she is up to and her commentary on current events. If you are not familiar with Jessie yet, check out the bio from her website and then head over there to learn more.

Jessie’s demonstration of several common firearms on the Hannity show:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jessie’s interview with Judge Jeanine:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Keep up the wonderful work, Jessie! You make us proud.

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 “We would like to purchase a .22LR. We are looking at both a Marlin and a Ruger. In your opinion, which one is better? Thanks for your help.”

Marlin:

These are some of the responses we heard from you. Chime in with more in the comments section below:

Jonathan Grim Ruger 10-22 Takedown model! Best thing to ever happen to a .22 rifle!

Tammy Timberlake Slone Ruger 10/22 are great lil guns..

• Jay Pearson I have had both and i would go with the Ruger.. Marlin is a great company , but the Rugers have many more options for aftermarket parts and accessories!

  Thomas Ward LaFrance Go Ruger 10-22 and never look back.

  Lamborghini Knizewski ruger 10/22

  Ashley Carlson If your looking for the actual rifle, the Marlin but if your looking at the .22LR pistol, I’d go Ruger… Both make excellent .22s

  Victoria Klink Casaray I love the Ruger! We have two! Don’t know about the Marlin, but like I said the Ruger is great!!

  William E. Shaw Ruger.

  Sarah Houser Rugar 22 pistol best gun!!

  Jess Umbaugh we have the Ruger and its amazing! super accurate, especially when you get that scope on there.

  Jeff Wertenberger Ruger 10/22 no question

  Aviana Knochel Ruger for sure.

  Bob Johnson both are good weapons – really depends on what they are used to and what they plan to do with it

  Douglas Cooper Ruger 1022.

  Kathrine Reid my hubby told me to do the ruger 10/22 as well, but he has a old henry .22 lever action rifle that is great and fun to shoot and less expensive.

  Alysse Zimmerman LOVE my Rugar!

  Melissa Robinson I just bought a Winchester 69A (22LR)

  Amy Bratcher Marlin

  Fred Steel Rugar

  Elizabeth Christensen Smart Ruger

  Jason Veraldi Both if you can afford it. Both great guns with their pluses. Ruger is a little better straight out of the box, but the Marlin is a steal for a .22.

  Charles Kyle i just got a Ruger 10/22 such a great firearm. Ruger all the way

  Debbie Caruana Ruger

  Julie Golob What are her goals and what does she plan to shoot? S&W M&P15-22 is SO much fun to shoot and is a great, inexpensive way to learn the AR platform as another option.

  Amber Gardepe Wright Love my ruger 10/22

  Amy Bratcher I’ve got one of each and I really like my Marlin. But the Ruger is nice as well. It’s a toss up. You gotta shoot both to be able to see which one you’d prefer!

  Andrew Tuohy My Marlin 22s are more accurate than my Ruger 22s. It’s easier to find aftermarket parts for, and easier to modify, the Rugers. The Marlins tend to be a bit less expensive. Some of the more recent production Marlins have exhibited a disappointing lack of quality control.

  Pete Kofod Ruger. Best after market.

  George Farr Ruger 10/22

  Michael Dennis Driscoll Both are notoriously reliable, I own a Marlin that I’ve had since I first started shooting in 1997. I put probably 10,000 rounds through it before I had to disassemble the action and detail clean it. The wood stock is scratched, beat up, and ugly after all this time, but the rounds still go right where you want them to. In short, Marlin makes a great .22. Best of luck with whatever you choose!

  Richard Dierker Got a Marlin bolt action that shoots dime size groups at 70 yards–got a 10/22 that wont !

  Daniel Coe Ruger 10/22

  MikeandShannon Slater Ruger for sure.

  George Farr marlin in that cal is junk

  Stephanie Downey I absolutely love my Ruger. It never jams and it’s very accurate. I can’t speak to the Marlin but I am a Ruger lover!

  Jonathan Huckabay Ruger Mark III

  Trisha Bries Marlins are very accurate. I have shot both and found I prefer a marlin. Marlins usually only have a 7 round mag vs a ruger with a 10 round mag. Marlins arent as expensive either and you’ll get the same experience. Factory sights aren’t good on either so either get a scope or tech sights too.

  Susan Littleton Story I LOVE my 10/22! I tricked mine out with a scope and folding stock!

  Paul Taylor Go with the Ruger 10/22 and try to get one with a bull barrel. Very accurate.

  Richard Lawrence I have a couple of Ruger 10/22′s. One more than a decade old and one of the new “take down” models. I have never had an issue with either.. Highly recommended.

  Ellen R. Moberly Ruger is what we’ve always owned.

  Misty Ann Ring I had a Ruger Carbine 10/22 that was a lot of fun. Never tried the Marlin though.

  Treva Smith Ruger!

  Bob Westwood I have a Marlin. 22 w/scope and I bought my girlfriend a Mossberg. 22 in pink camo.

  Bob McPeak Ruger…mags are easier to find and easier to load…

  Evan Farley Either rifle is fine. The edge in accuracy goes to Marlin and the Ruger is hands down the most easily customizable shooter. Far more aftermarket parts and kits for the 10/22. That said I shoot tube fed Marlin .22 rifles and Ruger Mark series pistols. Can’t really go wrong with either.

  Bert Bond ruger is a nice gun fur rabbit

  Eric Matthews Ruger hands down

  Justin Goad personally i vote for the Ruger. the amount of of aftermarket parts and even factory parts available, the sheer ease of cleaning, very accurate. the Marlin is also a good rifle. I personally have a Ruger 10/22 MAG. and i love it.

  Sara Nys Get a north american arms 22lr – you can hide that little baby anywhere

  Louise James Coulson Love my Ruger.

  Aidan O’brien Both guns score a solid 8 in my books but I prefer the marlin but that pretty much what it comes back too just your personal preference

  Beth Gillahan Absolutely would never trade my Ruger!!! So much fun and great quality!!

  Kevin Farrell Ruger 10/22

  Doraetta Hesse Both are great I have marlin

  Laura Clarke I have a nice Savage that I love. So another option for ya!

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While most of us here in the US were asleep on Saturday night, this California girl and her shotgun were out braving the London wind and rain in an effort to make history.

Kim Rhode, who, for the record is one of the coolest chicks you could ever meet, left the rest of her women’s skeet competitors in the dust and scored an Olympic Record hitting 99 of 100 targets, tying the World Record and scoring her historic fifth Olympic medal in five Olympics.  She is the first American athlete to ever do so.

Check out this interview we did with Kim during her training last year:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here is a report on her incredible win:

Rhode’s drive for 5 capped by skeet gold medal

She set an Olympic record with 99 points

Updated: Sunday, 29 Jul 2012, 3:43 PM MDT
Published : Sunday, 29 Jul 2012, 7:58 AM MDT

• TIM REYNOLDS,AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP) — Step aside, Carl Lewis.

You, too, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Al Oerter.

Meet Kimberly Rhode, the first American with individual medals in five straight Olympics, after a golden, record-setting, nearly perfect performance.

Rhode won the women’s skeet shooting Sunday, tying a world record and setting the Olympic mark with 99 points — meaning she missed once in 100 shots. She was eight targets better than silver medalist Wei Ning of China and nine better than Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova, who topped Russia’s Marina Belikova in a shootout for the bronze.

Rhode won in double trap at Atlanta as a teenager in 1996, took bronze in that event four years later at Sydney, re-claimed the gold at Athens in 2004 and won the silver in skeet at Beijing in 2008.

Now, golden again.

“It’s just been an incredible journey,” said Rhode, strands of glitter intertwined with her blonde hair. “And ultimately, I couldn’t be happier for bringing home the gold for the United States.”

Lewis, Oerter, Joyner-Kersee and Bruce Baumgartner are the other Americans recognized as individual medal-winners in four straight Summer Olympics. Rhode’s at five now, and at 33 years old, she’s not planning to stop anytime soon.

Read the rest of this article here: https://www.krqe.com/dpps/sports/summer_games/rhodes-drive-for-5-capped-by-skeet-gold-medal-sp12-jgr_4253676

We could not be more proud of you, Kim! I look forward to seeing that medal in person back in California. Thanks for inspiring us all yet again. You are a true champion in every sense of the word.

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For the record, the nails were already that gun metal color.

This is a problem for a couple of reasons:

1) my gun was ridiculously dirty and was clearly screaming for a cleaning.

2) gun powder is bad for you. So is lead.

After reading Julie Golob’s Book SHOOT  a few weeks ago, I was reminded of the fact that the chemicals released when shooting can be toxic and can have lasting negative effects on your body.

Sure, we all know to wash our hands after we shoot, but it turns out that the reasons for doing so are far more important than keeping black stains off those cute new Sevens. After doing a little internet research, I learned that gunpowder is a blood toxin as well as a skin and eye irritant. It can potentially cause nerve damage and memory loss in the long term. This explains why I have the urge to rub my eyes every time I shoot. Know the feeling? Lead, too, is released when after you fire a round. Small doses can be metabolized by the body, but if you are an avid shooter (and I know you are) there are some safety precautions you should take.

A few tips you should consider are the following:

• Try to shoot outdoors as often as possible.
• Bring a rag or baby wipes in your range bag to use when you take a break or when you start feeling irritation on your hands or in your eyes.
• Add a little nail salon nail brush to your list in order to get the gun powder residue out from under your nail beds and cuticles. Both of these areas allow the toxins easy access to your blood stream. Head them off at the pass.
• Try shooting with gloves.
• Julie suggests in her book that you should consider getting your blood levels checked by your doctor to make sure you are in a safe zone. She is right on about that.

• 

  Another excuse to go shopping

BTW- SHOOT is an amazing book with tons of helpful tips. Get a copy as soon as humanly possible.
A little info for you reloaders or those who might come in contact with gunpowder…

Found at: https://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f30/gunpowder-7850/
Eyes – Immediately flush with water for at least 15 minutes lifting upper & lower eyelids, if your eyes keep bothering you see a Doctor.

Skin – Immediately flush for 15 minutes, call a DOCTOR, if you clothing has it on them make sure you wash them before you wear them next time.

Ingestion (eating) – Drink large quantities of water, induce vomiting, call a DOCTOR. Do not give anything by mouth if the person is unconscious or having convulsions.

Inhalation – If you’re dizzy or have a headache or are experiencing nausea, stop working immediately get into fresh air and call a Doctor.

Be safe out there! These safety tips are equally as important when cleaning your guns, so keep chemical safety in mind any time you are handling your firearm.

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Jarrett Arthur, self-defense instructor.

 I met Jarrett Arthur a few months ago when I took one of her classes here in Los Angeles. She introduced me firearm retention training, a concept I had not been taught in my prior coaching. I had a fantastic time learning from Jarrett and I asked her if she wouldnʼt mind sharing some of her insight with us here. This information, as Jarrett mentions, is designed for civilians. Jarrett recommends finding an instructor in your area (some suggestions below) to get you on a solid training path. Until then, check out these techniques:

FIREARM RETENTION WITH JARRETT ARTHUR

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you own a firearm chances are that youʼve thought about the possibility of being in a fight for control of that weapon. That is one of the most disconcerting scenarios you can describe to a gun owner.

• Your concealed firearm is in your purse or bag. Walking to your car you suddenly feel your bag being ripped off of your shoulder by a purse-snatcher you never heard coming.
• Youʼve been attacked and are in a hand to hand fight for your life. Youʼre being choked and hit and desperately trying to defend yourself with both hands, while you wait for an opportunity to reach for your weapon. Your attacker has seen
  your firearm, or felt it, and before you know whatʼs happening heʼs reaching for it.
• A verbal altercation has quickly turned violent and you realize you will need rely on your weapon to get away safely. You know you need to create space, but in the flux of the encounter, and with adrenaline surging, you begin to draw your
  weapon. Your attacker sees the movement and reaches for your gun just as you grip it to draw.
• Youʼre home alone and in your bedroom. You hear a window break in the living room and the sound of someone entering. You grab your firearm from under your bed and as quietly as you can you begin moving towards the living room. Youʼve
  practiced house clearing once or twice and try to remember what your instructor told you. Your heart is beating so loudly you can hardly think and your legs feel like jelly. You peek around the corner of the doorway knowing you are about to
  get tested for the first time. All of a sudden unknown hands are grabbing your weapon and yanking it away from you.

All of these scenarios represent realistic possibilities, and they all fall under the category of weapon retention. The topic of weapon retention is a huge one, and includes the entire spectrum of considerations. If you think about a timeline of a fight, from pre-fight
to post-fight, youʼve got a list of techniques you should learn and train on that runs the gamut from what kind of weapon you should carry, to where you carry your weapon, to how you conceal or store your weapon, to verbalizations in order to deescalate a
potential altercation, to keeping your weapon safe before youʼve drawn, to drawing your weapon, to keeping your weapon safe while drawing, to keeping your weapon safe once itʼs drawn, and finally to maintaining control during the fight and immediately afterwards.

These first two videos in my weapon retention series will only cover weapon retention strategies once youʼve drawn your weapon

Jarrett doing a little shotgun training.

and someone grabs it wanting to take it from you. In an ideal world, everything goes right and you correctly and successfully clear
your home, or correctly and successfully draw your weapon under appropriate circumstances and maintain control until the threat is nullified. For civilians especially, those who are usually unaccustomed to operating under adrenaline in high stress situations, and who more than likely do not train consistently on these practices, there is the distinct possibility that they will end up in a fight for control of their weapon. These videos are intended for the everyday civilian who has not had a high level of training on these techniques. The goal of this video series is not to make you an expert on weapon retention. Moreover, for you to get the wake-up call needed to begin training effectively for the worst case scenario.

Please seek the help of a professional before embarking on a training program. Always use a training weapon, NEVER a live weapon (not even one with barrel inserts). I do not address any legalities of these situations, and itʼs up to you to make sure you fully understand the gun laws governing your place of residence.

I hope you enjoy the videos. Please contact me at JarrettArthur.com or Natalie at GirlsGuidetoGuns.com with questions, or requests for specific techniques.

Be safe and be well…

Jarrett Arthur

NOTE: Firearm Retention has been the topic of discussion in a few gun circles recently. I spoke with former Top Shot contestant and Gun Nuts Media guru, Caleb Giddings and he recommends the following for shooters interested in serious training in self-defense and weapons retention:

ShivWorks

https://shivworks.com/
“Extreme Close Quarters Concepts” is the standard that other CQB courses are measured by.  He trains all over the country, so chances are your will be able to find a course near you.

InSights Training Center in Bellevue, WA

Here’s their course list: https://insightstraining.com/catalog.asp  Caleb recommends everything in the “Combatives” section, (Unarmed Self Defense, Defensive Folding Knife, etc) without reservation.

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Fit for female cops: Belly band designs

While many women’s clothing items are far more tolerant in regard to the concealing of guns carried in belly bands, their bodies might not be

By Tom Marx

In the previous two installments, we completed our look at upper-body/cross-body concepts by studying Shoulder Holsters and Body Armor Holsters that were worn near the non-dominant side armpit. Today, we’ll look at belly bands.

Intro
The modular band offered by Uncle Mike’s appears to be discontinued, but a quick check of the web when I wrote this column showed that there are still a good number of outlets who are offering them. Non-modular but adjustable bands of very good quality are available from Galco (their UnderWraps™ model), Gould & Goodrich (their “Body Guard”), DeSantis (their Model 060), and a host of others. It appears that all of these models are sold by size (S-M-L-XL), are elastic in nature, and use hook-and-loop closers to secure them around the body. Colors vary but are generally black, white or beige.

Where to wear
While many women’s clothing items are far more tolerant in regard to the concealing of guns carried in belly bands, their bodies might not be. That’s not to say that belly bands are not popular with women — in my experience they are – but like everything else we have discussed here, there are issues to ponder when considering such a device.

DeSantis Ambidextrous Elastic Belly Band.

Most men can wear a properly designed belly band at any one of several points along the torso: low along the waist, in line with the belly, or on or just below the pectorals. In many cases, the gun can be positioned in a variety of locations around the body as well. Obviously women don’t have as many options. In fact, for many, only the belly height is viable. Even that won’t work for everybody depending on the size of the rib cage or breasts. Consider this before making a purchase.

The elastic problem
Most belly bands are elastic in nature, either completely or to allow for torso movement and expansion during exertion, so you need to decide if elastic is comfortable for you to wear. Since belly bands are designed to be worn directly against the skin, they might be irritating to the wearer. The aforementioned Uncle Mike’s band was made from a smooth finish, breathable material with hook-and-loop covered elastic closures. This was done to promote comfort.

Read the entire article here: https://www.policeone.com/police-products/duty-gear/holsters/articles/4480834-Fit-for-female-cops-Belly-band-designs/

About the author Tom Marx left the Chicago Police Department in 1988 to become an instructor at the Smith & Wesson Academy. After several years of teaching full time both nationally and internationally, he shifted roles at Smith: first to a series of technical positions and then as Head of their Domestic Law Enforcement Operations. He left S&W to organize a Law Enforcement Division for Michaels of Oregon as well as to help design much of their police-related duty gear. Leaving Uncle Mike’s, Tom became Director of Intellectual Property for BLACKHAWK Products Group; focusing on the patent efforts for all of their divisions. Today, he is a consultant in various firearms, accessory and training matters. Throughout the years, Tom has continued to lecture and instruct both inside and outside the US with such diverse groups as ILEETA, IALEFI, WIFLE, LETC, NDIA, the NRA, and Team One Network. . Contact Tom Marx.

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Story by: David LaPell

It happens to us all sooner or later. You are out in public somewhere and for some reason or another someone spots the gun that you were trying to carry concealed. So what do you do now? Try and explain or split before the cops arrive?

As long as you are carrying a legal firearm and not in a place like a government office like the Post Office or a Federal building than you have no reason to fear the fuzz.  Now that does not mean you might not have to do some explaining, but I am getting ahead of myself.

The first thing I will tell you not to do is to take off.  Nothing screams suspicious behavior like a guy just seen packing iron and now taking off for the hills. Try to be calm, I know this is going to be tough, but you really do need to act that way. I will tell you the story of my first time unintentionally brandishing a firearm while still in its holster.

I was nineteen years old, I had just gotten my pistol permit and I knew very little about carrying a firearm concealed. I had a Ruger Blackhawk .357 in a cheap Uncle Mike’s holster because at the time it was all I could afford. It was in the fall so I was wearing a heavy flannel jacket that normally covered the gun well. What I didn’t realize was that when I had gotten out of my truck, the jacket got pulled up over the grip of the gun in that crappy holster. I was walking across a parking lot and into a gun store of all places when a family of four came walking down the sidewalk. The father literally freaked out, grabbed the kids and wife and ran–and I do mean ran–in the opposite direction. It took me a few seconds to figure out why, but then I got the message. Luckily none of the local constabulary ever arrived, but that was quite a few years ago and times are not the same now.

Read Full Article Here: https://www.guns.com/what-to-do-if-you-are-outed-while-you-carry-concealed-2.html

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Gotta love a Sheriff who empowers women to take their safety seriously. Thanks so much for your support, Sheriff! But um… we need to chat about that whole “fanny pack” thing. You should definitely give the girls safety advice, but you might want to leave the fashion stuff to us.  

By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON, South Carolina | Tue Nov 1, 2011 6:04pm EDT

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright

(Reuters) – A South Carolina sheriff who called for women to carry guns to defend themselves against assaults said on Tuesday he has received a positive response to his advice.

During a press conference Monday about a rape suspect’s arrest, Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said women should walk in groups and get a gun.

“I don’t want you to go for the Mace. I want you to go for the concealed weapons permit,” the sheriff said, according to a video of his remarks.

Wright said women could conceal a small pistol inside a fanny pack when they go out jogging.

“They got one called ‘The Judge’ that shoots a .45 or a .410 shell,” he said. “You ain’t gotta be accurate. You just gotta get close.”

Wright’s comments were prompted by the case of Walter Monroe Lance, 46, who was arrested in a park Sunday and charged with kidnapping, rape and grand larceny. The suspect has a long record of arrests.

Wright said he knew he would “get all lit up” by anti-gun activists for his remarks, but he was frustrated that Lance kept getting out of jail.

“I really think that would send a message to some of these people that can’t control themselves that you better be really cautious who you mess with because they might be armed,” Wright told Reuters on Tuesday.

“Just presenting a weapon could have prevented this whole thing from happening.”

To read the rest of the story (but see note below first): https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-guns-sheriff-idUSTRE7A077X20111101

(Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Greg McCune)

BLOGGER’S NOTE: There is a statistic at the bottom of the piece that, unless they chose the Marx Brothers as their sample group, is inaccurate due to lack of or falsified data.  There is no possible way to accurately quantify the number of people who carry firearms. The statistic, therefore, is not an accurate reflection of the actions of concealed carry permit holders. Just sayin’.

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