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

by
posted on May 11, 2023
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

USA Clay Target League
USA Clay Target League

Supporting Youth Achievement: The USA Clay Target League And NRA Foundation

The NRA Foundation provides grant support for the USA Clay Target League’s state and national tournaments and funds many local teams as well.

Zeroed Out: Trump Administration Formally Ends Biden-Era War On Gun Dealers

The Trump administration has formally revoked the Biden-Harris administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy for inspections of federal firearm licensees.

John Lott on the ATF and the Second Trump Administration

Gun-control groups hate Lott, as he digs into the real details about guns and crime in America. His peer-reviewed research has clearly shown that gun ownership tends to reduce crime.

The Armed Citizen® June 13, 2025

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

Taiwan Has a Gun-Control Problem

Despite a surge in interest in urban warfare training and emergency medical courses among civilians, the Taiwanese government remains stubbornly attached to one of the strictest gun-control regimes in the world.

Why Gun Control Has Always Been a Battle Between Elites and the People

Gun-control elitists are now, and have always been, focused on subjugating the American citizenry.



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