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Archive for February, 2016

Canadian Researcher Richard Webster Works On Disruptive Camouflage

Friday, February 26th, 2016

According to Exchange Magazine, an Ontario, Canada-based publication, Carleton University researcher Richard Webster has been researching Disruptive Camouflage, including how the wings of a moth are disrupted to conceal their overall shape. The intent of this research is to prove his thesis that disruptive camouflage is more effective in overall survival rate than background matching. Webster’s research led to an invitation to speak to the Canadian Department of National Defence’s Soldier Systems Unit.

You can read Richard Webster’s publications on disruptive camouflage at www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Webster5.

Original story: www.exchangemagazine.com/morningpost/2016/week8/Thursday/16022507

Terry Baldwin – Citizenship In A Republic

Friday, February 26th, 2016

Constitutional-Convention

We tend to talk about our Republic in terms of our individual rights and all too often ignore or downplay the responsibilities that are the citizen’s rightful burden. A Republic is a participatory form of government. For our system of democracy to work the citizen must cherish his or her obligations to the Constitution as much if not more than their individual freedom. Adlai Stevenson once said: “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” For my purposes today I’m going to substitute the word “citizenship” for patriotism. Citizenship is not something that is practiced intermittently but rather it is an enduring responsibility. Citizenship demands that we are prepared to act individually and collectively in accordance with the Constitution. Citizenship is not a passive activity or spectator sport.

How many here have served on a jury? The Founders didn’t advocate juries because it was somehow perceived to be more “fair” to the defendant than trial by a judge. Rather they wanted we the people to participate and take ownership of our judicial system by putting the outcome of serious cases largely in the hands of citizens. Voting is another example. As citizens we are expected not only to show up at the polls occasionally but also to actively seek knowledge of the issues and candidates on the ballot. The Founders believed that in order for the people to be well informed there was a need for several critical enablers. Some are addressed directly in the Constitution, specifically in the 1st Amendment. The right to assemble, the right of free association and freedom of speech are particularly vital to a citizen’s full and unfettered participation in our political process.

To guarantee access to information the Founders also established or supported a number of institutions. Arguably the most important was a public funded school system. In an age where illiteracy was more common than not it was a revolutionary idea. A basic education allowed each individual to read and better reason for him or herself independently. They also moved quickly to establish the US Postal Service to carry the mail. Which was much more vital then since ALL long distance communication in those days was by what we now call snail mail. Also creating Local Libraries to provide free services to even the smallest communities. This was radical thinking in a time when books were expensive, rare and otherwise out of reach for the common man. Finally, as also enshrined in the 1st Amendment, a free press outside the control of politicians was considered absolutely essential to facilitate a well informed electorate.

I pointed out in an earlier piece that the Founders were more comfortable with a small standing or professional Army except in times of actual conflict. The Founders were not pacifists by any means but in their day Kings often raised large armies for suppression of their own populations. But that wasn’t the Founders only rationale. Their expectation was that National Defense as we now call it would be largely borne by the people in the form of mobilized Militias. That would also include the so called Unorganized Militia – basically every able bodied citizen. That by the way is the Constitutional basis for Draft Registration. That is not to say that every citizen is front line fighter material, but every one of us could and should be prepared to be called up to provide some service in time of emergency. WW II being the best and really only example of “full mobilization” of the majority of citizens in our Nation’s history.

Even in situations less dire than war, the Founders envisioned the people being routinely called to volunteer locally and even regionally if required. Not just to deal with external threats but also with natural disasters and internal dangers like criminal gangs. The concept of a sheriff forming a posse is a staple of Western movies. But it is also a real life example of we the people stepping up to assist and reinforce elected or appointed officials in resolving a crisis. And when the local sheriff needed help citizens dropped what they were doing, took up their guns and showed up. Ready to serve, ready to uphold the law and ready to fight if necessary. Not as an angry armed mob, not as vengeance seeking vigilantes but rather as staunch defenders of the rule of law. So when our Nation was formed, citizens expected to shoulder their share of the burden especially when faced with a tough or unpleasant task related to governance.

Since then our Nation has inexorably evolved from an agrarian culture, through industrialization and now into an information-centric society. We are richer, more powerful and have access to more information today than our Founders ever dared imagine possible. So it is not surprising that the relationship of the citizen to the most dangerous traditional duties has also changed over time. Not as the result of some insidious conspiracy or softening of our individual commitment to citizenship. Rather, one of the biggest factors driving this change has been “professionalization”. We have demanded increasingly more professional behavior from our soldiers and policemen specifically. That mandate and countless technological advances resulted in more complex and time consuming training requirements for even entry level candidates to those jobs. Even our Organized Militia elements like the National Guard must spend much more time training and actually performing their missions than ever before.

It hasn’t been possible in a very long time for untrained amateurs to simply “fall in” to these ranks in time of crisis and perform to an acceptable standard. Moreover, in a time of modern communications and transportation assets a sheriff can now get fully trained support from other LE faster than he can assemble an untrained citizen posse. That is not to say that the armed citizen no longer has any role in “providing for the common defense”. But rather accepts the fact that a civilian’s in extremis participation is not as central to our Local, State or National security systems as it once was. I for one believe that professionalization in our security services has been both necessary and positive. And I do not think it represents a threat of any kind to the future of our Republic. However, in my opinion, there is an area where this trend towards “professionalization” has become a serious problem. And that is in politics.

Far too many of us are consciously avoiding involvement in public sector activities. We have become comfortable with “hiring it done” by someone else. Oh, we bitch about it all the time. We hate “career politicians” and “the establishment”. We shout at the TV and complain to our spouses (at least I do). But we don’t do much else. We’re mad…but not really motivated. That is why 95% of incumbents get re-elected each and every cycle. That is why many candidates run unopposed – even at the National level. But we the people can choose to do better than that. So ignore the cynics. Don’t skip jury duty. Learn the facts of the issues and the records of the candidates. Support a campaign. Fight against a campaign. If you can’t stand anybody, run for office yourself. Do your duty. Be a real citizen and shoulder 100% of the burden and then some. Take action. Of course Vote. But don’t just cast a ballot, participate in the process! The fact is that we aren’t true Citizens and this isn’t a Republic if we don’t.

FirstSpear Friday Focus – The Asset

Friday, February 26th, 2016

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For this week’s Friday Focus, we’re taking a look at the FirstSpear Asset shirt. Designed and engineered to “be a gunfighter’s best friend”, Asset is a combat shirt designed to offer high heat and flash flame protection, as well as featuring a generous neck cut to accommodate balaclavas or neck sleeves.

AssetProfile

The torso of the Asset is constructed of Polartec Flame Retardant fabric, with a thinner, wicking mesh in the armpit area, which is treated with an antimicrobial finish. The sleeves of the Asset are made of FirstSpear P Aramid, a Kevlar-based flame retardant fabric which is also highly abrasion resistant and durable. Also featured on the sleeves are low-profile Velcro attachment points and pockets also made of FS P Aramid.

www.first-spear.com – The Asset

Amy Graves Joins MasterPiece Arms As National Sales Manager

Friday, February 26th, 2016

Amy GravesNew sales position will provide MPA’s sales channel with superior customer service as MPA’s firearms business expands.

Comer, Ga. – (February 2016) – MasterPiece Arms (MPA), manufacturers of the MPA BA Rifles, Chassis Systems, Defender Pistols and Carbines, Suppressors and MPAR Rifles, is pleased to announce the hiring of Amy Graves as MPA’s new national sales manager. As MPA’s business continues to grow, it became clear to its President, Phil Cashin, that a dedicated sales manager was needed in order for the company to move to the next phase.

“Amy’s background in working to promote a brand to dealers and distributors has earned her a great deal of respect in the firearms community,” Cashin commented. “At MPA, she’ll be able to build on all of her relationships and experience, while leveraging the MPA brand, across the sales channel. An added benefit is that now our dealers and distributors will have one contact to provide that personal touch critical to achieving a successful sales relationship.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the MPA team,” Graves added. “This position gives me the opportunity to take my marketing and sales skills to a new level. I am looking forward to being part of this company’s success.”

Graves will be responsible for developing programs for distributors and dealers with the goal of increased and consistent sales and managing the manufacturer’s rep groups while providing them with the tools they will need for success. Before joining MPA, Graves was employed at Bond Arms, Inc. and is a licensed private investigator and personal protection officer.

For more information on MasterPiece Arms and their product line of pistols, rifles, carbines and suppressors, visit www.masterpiecearms.com.

Rifle Dynamics Red October Kalashnikov

Thursday, February 25th, 2016

The Rifle Dynamics Red October Kalashnikov is a practical-style competition providing a fun opportunity to compete using the AK-pattern rifle in a style that is typically slanted towards more modern AR-style designs. This match is NOT intended to be a tactics and doctrine-based exercise, just a fun celebration of Mikhail Kalashnikov’s rifle for the masses, which has served billions and billions worldwide in both noble and ignoble pursuits.

ROK will be held from October 29, 2016 at 9:00 AM through  October 30, 2016 at 5:00 PM at the Southern Utah Practical Shooting Range in St. George, UT.  They are limiting the event to 200 shooters.

It will consist of 350 rounds over 10 Stages (two of which are nighttime low-light).  Competitors will shoot four stages on Friday (either morning or afternoon), two night stages on Friday Night and four more stages on Saturday.  They’ll run a “half-day” schedule with room for 200 shooters, which gives competitors time to peruse a vendor area that they intend to fill with AK-specific retailers, builders and parts makers, complete with live-fire demo areas.

There are four divisions:

-Kalash Heavy, for stock 7.62×39 and larger-caliber AKs/direct variants. Iron sights and 30 round (or smaller) mags only.

-Kalash Light, which is Kalash Heavy but for anything 5.45 or larger

-Open Kalash, where anything that’s an AK or variant and is chambered in 5.45 or larger is allowed! Optics, drum mags, anything you want so long as there’s an AK under there!

-ComBloc, which is for any rifle issued by a Warsaw Pact nation that ISN’T an AK (such as an SKS, Vz.58, StG-44 or any commie subgun like a PPSh-41)

southernutahpracticalshootingrange.com/rok

Garmin tactix Bravo

Thursday, February 25th, 2016

 

The Garmin tactix Bravo is first and foremost a watch, and a good looking one at that. But that’s not all that’s going on with the tactix. It’s a GPS-enabled multi-sport training watch that offers some great features for militray and LE users. For instance, it processes both US GPS and Russian GLONASS signals meaning you’ve got a better shot at knowing where you are in a GPS-denied environment. Additionally, the tactix offers apps such as Jumpmaster which makes data all the more usable. Also, GPS features like track-back allow you to find your way back to a point of origin and the GPS data is augmented by altimeter, barometer and compass features.

Here are a few highlights:

    2-inch high-resolution, sunlight-readable Garmin Chroma Display with high-strength domed sapphire lens, capable of switching between 2 modes: day use and night vision goggle compatibility
    Omni-directional stainless steel EXO antenna, with GPS/GLONASS satellite reception, has the ability to track in more challenging environments
    All-black, rugged and durable design inspired by the requirements of tactical gear intended for use in the field
    Black PVD-coated stainless steel buttons, knurled start/stop button, rear case plate and screws
    High-sensitivity GPS/GLONASS satellite reception has the ability to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
    Dual-mode operation optimizes the sunlight-readable display for day use or night vision goggle compatibility

The tactix is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It can last up to 20 hours on a single charge in GPS training mode, 50 hours in Ultra-Trac mode and six weeks in watch mode. It features a PVD coated Black case with nylon strap or silicone band. Finally, there are lots of apps available for the tactix, with more coming all of the time.

For my friends interested in purchasing Garmin products, I always recommend Strohman Enterprise. They’ll take great care of you, offering preferred pricing to Law Enforcement, Military, and Government Customers.

garmin.com

HSGI – MAC TACO

Thursday, February 25th, 2016

 

SWANSBORO, North Carolina – Feb. 25, 2016 – High Speed Gear® continues to innovate by developing new and improved ways to meet the highly diverse and specialized needs of our customers. Many of our products are inspired by direct feedback from our military, law enforcement, recreational and competitive customers. With that in mind, High Speed Gear® is proud to release its Multi-Access Communications (MAC) TACO®.

 

Originally designed as the issued pouch for a large communications partner, the versatile MAC TACO® uses our popular Soft TACO® technology and durable webbing in multiple sizes to create a secure but easily accessible storage solution for a wide variety of military and law enforcement personal communication devices. An over-the-top bungee retention tab provides additional security, and the open-top design and 2.5” side openings offer constant access to most controls without removing the device. The MOLLE version includes our HSGI® Clips and the belt-mounted version attaches easily to belts up to 2” with Velcro® One-Wrap®.

 

Made 100% in the USA, Battle Proven Tactical Nylon Gear™.

The MAC TACO® is available now.

www.highspeedgear.com

Sneak Peek – Drum Mag for .510 Beck

Thursday, February 25th, 2016

  
The .510 Beck cartridge was designed as an anti-material solution which is compatible with .308 AR-style rifles. The .510 Beck requires a different barrel, bolt, and magazine.  The military model is compatible with the SR-25 but commercial models are coming as well. 

This drum magazine for the Beck Defense .510 Beck round is based on the patented X Products .308 50 round drum design. Future models will be skeletonized to help control weight.

  
Initially, the rounds will be offered in subsonic with weights of 327 to 680 grains.  Coming soon.