First Gear | GTM purse, Remington storage box and Alexo Athletica jacket

by
posted on May 11, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Gun Tote’n Mamas
Photo: Peter Fountain

1. Concealed Carry, Snake Style
I say it every time I review a bag, and it’s true: on-body carry is better. Even so, a purse offers the most-realistic method of consistent concealed carry for many women. If you’re going to carry in a purse, why not get a great-looking one, like this Gun Tote’n Mamas brand snakeskin-embossed leather beauty? It offers a generous zippered and padded concealed-carry pocket with a hook-and-loop setup to change the draw angle or hand, an even-more-roomy main compartment with one radio-frequency-protected zippered pocket and two open pockets (one sized perfectly for my phone). The most-important feature to me is the attractive slash-proof crossbody strap that comes with it, with a wire discreetly ensconced in a leather strip on top of the wide webbing that distributes the purse’s weight well; the strap also clips on easily to this and other purses. Plus there are two handles to carry that way if you prefer, and the backside one will not fall over the holster area. ($190; hidinghilda.com)

2. Iconic Storage
A merchandising partnership—this time between Remington and Vintage Editions—brings us this old-school shotgun-shell storage box that’s handsome enough to be displayed anywhere; in fact, a variety of such nostalgic storage boxes, along with crates, signs and cupboards, are available, each of them featuring classic Remington branding. ($69; thewhisperwoodcollection.com)

3. Warm In All the Right Places
Alexo Athletica and Springfield Armory teamed up to make apparel for gun owners. This is my favorite: a lightweight, mesh-paneled jacket that’s ideal for the range. It has mesh everywhere—along the sides, up the front on either side of the zipper, down the inner arm, across the tops of the arms and across the top of the back near the neckline. The remaining material has just the right amount of fill, so you’re kept warm in all the right places and yet don’t end up sweaty. The seams, zippered pockets and zippered sleeves are just right, too. I was concerned about tearing the mesh, especially since the jacket does not have a neck loop to hang it from a peg easily, but so far, no tears, so I think it’s tough enough to stand up to normal use. ($129; store.springfield-armory.com)

Latest

Holiday Gift Guide

The Trade Association for the Firearms Industry is Calling Out JPMorganChase

The CEO of JPMorganChase, Jamie Dimon, went on Fox News and claimed that JPMorganChase does not debank individuals, associations or corporations for ideological reasons. But the NSSF points out that Dimon has said different things before.

Gun Review | Rost Martin RM1C

I would like to introduce you to the Rost Martin RM1C—and yes, anyone familiar with the Glock 19 will immediately see its lineage. I nevertheless became intrigued by this gun, as I believe you might, thanks to some of its special features—and thanks to its price tag.

The NRA is Still Fighting for Our First Amendment Freedoms

Though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of the NRA's argument in NRA v. Vullo, the decision sent the case back to a lower court, which ruled the offending government official had "qualified immunity." As a result, this case is ongoing.

Policing Should Not Be A Political Issue

Crime is a complicated topic, but there is an extremely simple rule that must be observed before one can begin to fight it effectively: One must genuinely wish to deal with the problem. Without such an elementary ambition, no amount of legislation, activity, taxpayer money or speechmaking will make the slightest bit of difference.

Gun-Control Group Inadvertently Admits Armed Citizens are Effective

The gun-control group Everytown inadvertently admitted that lawfully armed citizens stop a lot of crimes in America.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.