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

10 Lies About Guns And Crime The Trump Administration Has Exposed
10 Lies About Guns And Crime The Trump Administration Has Exposed

Dispelling Anti-Gun Disinformation | Here Are 10 Lies About Guns And Crime The Trump Administration Has Exposed

Crime is a major problem in the United States, 66% of Americans believe, with 81% saying it is a major problem in large cities, according to an August 2025 poll by the Associated Press/NORC [previously the National Opinion Research Center].

The Greatest Second Amendment Victory in a Century

On July 4, 2025, Americans celebrated not only our nation’s independence, but also the restoration of our constitutional Second Amendment rights becoming unconstrained by burdensome and arbitrary fees.

Opening Salvo | More Evidence That Gun-Control Groups are Freaking Out

With the Trump administration’s law-and-order push showing America’s crime problem is clearly not the fault of lawfully armed citizens, gun-control groups are freaking out.

John Rich has a Song for Armed Citizens

John Rich's latest song is "The Righteous Hunter." It is a moving tune about standing up to stop those with evil intentions. It is a song for lawfully armed citizens.

This Department of Education Grant Could Change Things

The University of Wyoming’s Firearms Research Center has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to develop a nationwide program on the origins, meaning and implications of the Second Amendment.

From the Editor | Charlie Kirk Lived for Freedom

“Give me liberty, or give me death,” are the immortal words of Patrick Henry spoken on March 23, 1775, to the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond, Va. His impassioned words were a call to arms against British tyranny.  

Interests



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