Staring hard into the dark, a nine-man team, composed of six light Infantry scouts and three snipers tread carefully through a thick forest of concrete; their shadows follow along the 12-foot blast walls that litter the city as they make their way to a vacant two-story house on the west side of town. Their mission—to set up a final firing point to overwatch a highway and eliminate any threat that might be stirring about.

After infiltration into the vacant structure, the snipers slip off their heavy, burdensome packs and asses their final firing point, knowing that every urban hide must facilitate the following elements: positive communications, concealment, observation and fields of fire, escape routes, method of entry, interlocking sectors of fire and hide security.

After fabricating their hide site, the snipers emplace their M-110 rifles, supported by tripods affixed with HOG Saddle mounts. The tripod allows the sniper to deploy a sniper weapon system in a multitude of battle space environments. The Knights Armament-produced M-110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System is a precision 7.62mm NATO caliber, gas-operated rifle that is highly acclaimed for its battlefield performance. The rifle’s inherent accuracy, ambidextrous controls, abundant MIL-STD-1913 rail mounting capabilities and highly efficient sound suppressor system all contribute to the system’s combat success. Behind a double drape screen, the snipers clip on their universal night sights. The PVS-30 clip-on weapon sight adds the latest high-performance Gen 3 light intensification night vision to their rifles by attaching to the MIL-STD-1913 rail in front of the day optic. This device lets the snipers see at all hours of darkness, in shades of green.

Through the looking glass, the snipers begin their rapid scan and detailed search. The rifle scope that the snipers use is from a company that has been providing optics to the U.S. military since 1985. Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is an American manufacturer of telescopic sights, red dot sights, spotting scopes and binoculars located in Beaverton, Ore. Leupold & Stevens was founded by German immigrant Markus Friedrich Leupold and his brother-in-law Adam Voelpel in 1907, under the name Leupold & Voelpel. In 1942, the company name was changed to its present form, Leupold & Stevens. After World War II, Leupold & Stevens began making rifle scopes. In 1947, Leupold & Stevens introduced their first rifle scope, the Plainsman. It was the first fog-proof scope built by an American company. Fast forward to today, and Leupold’s line of optics are being used by organizations such as the United States Army, United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Not only is our military depending on them, but across the United States and abroad, countless military units and law enforcement agencies are putting their trust in them to get the job done.

MARK 5HD

The Leupold Mark 5HD is the latest development in Leupold’s tactical line of rifle scopes. Created with the serious shooter in mind, the Mark 5 pushes the engineering limits with its input from elite military personnel and professional shooters. The Mark 5HD was ergonomically designed with superb tactile, .1 Milliradian (Mil) audible click adjustments and a high-speed throw lever so the professional shooter can put accurate fire downrange faster. The Mark 5HD features a proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend, which nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock and reduces the diffusion of gases sealed inside the rifle scope. Its large eyebox provides the shooter exceptional head positioning and overall brightness, facilitating in the shooter gaining an effective sight picture quickly and with relative ease.

Weight: 26oz
Length: 12.06in
Eye Relief (low): 3.54in
Objective Diameter: 2.10in
Eye Relief (high): 3.82in
Tube Diameter: 35mm
Elevation Adjustment: 9.1 Mils
Windage Adjustment: 23.3 Mils

MARK 6 (ECOS-0)

In 2013, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division in Crane, Ind., awarded a five-year contract to Leupold & Stevens, Inc. and Aimpoint in Chantilly, Va., for the Enhanced Combat Optical Sight-Optimized (ECOS-O) program. The ECOS-O advanced rifle sighting system combines the Leupold & Stevens Mark 6 3-18x44mm rifle scope with the Aimpoint Micro T-1 red-dot aiming system. The Aimpoint Micro T-1 red-dot sighting system uses advanced circuit efficiency technology (ACET) with a light-emitting diode (LED) light source to create a 650-nanometer red light. The ECOS-O design attaches the Aimpoint T-1 sighting device to the top of the Leupold Mark 6 rifle scope. The system is designed to provide optical targeting from zero to 300 meters and optically enhanced targeting from 300 to 1,000 meters for the shooter.

The Leupold Mark 6 is a compact, lightweight rifle scope that features the same proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend found in the Mark 5HD and an exterior lens surface that is treated with DiamondCoat 2, an ion-assist lens coating, for higher light transmission and excellent abrasion resistance. According to Leupold, the DiamondCoat has the additional advantage of assisting in light transmission, for greater brightness, clarity and contrast. The Mark 6 features a powerful 6:1 zoom ratio that delivers a distinctly clear image throughout the entire magnification range and has a Twin Bias Spring Erector System that features beryllium/copper alloy leaf springs for a 30 percent increased holding force to withstand the most intense recoil and abuse.

The Mark 6, 3-18x44mm M5C2 rifle scope is a waterproof, shockproof and fog proof variable magnification rifle scope featuring audible and tactile 1/10 Mil click adjustments, a Zero-lock elevation adjustment with zero-stop, 34mm main tube, front focal plane TReMoR3 reticle for range estimation and long-range target engagement, side-focus parallax adjustment and optional reticle illumination.

Weight: 23.6oz
Eye Relief: 3.8in
Length: 11.9in
Elevation Adjustment: 26 Mils
Main Tube Diameter: 34mm
Windage Adjustment: 15 Mils
Objective Lens Aperture: 44mm
Adjustment Markings: 1/ 10 Mil

TReMoR3 RETICLE

The TReMoR3 reticle is a first focal plane reticle that magnifies along with the image, so you can estimate range at all magnification settings. The T3 reticle is ideal in tactical situations. The T3 gives the shooter the ability for excellent milling capability with 0.1 Mil resolution milling chevrons, allowing extremely fine estimation. Reticle hold points subtending to 0.2 Mil, with the central targeting grid calibrated in USMC Mils (6283 Mils/circle) (1 Mil= 3.60 inches at 100 yards) (10cm at 100 meters).

The speeds associated with the wind dot markers increase by a specific value from one marker to the next, moving outward from the reticle center. The specific value between wind markers depends on the ballistic coefficient and muzzle velocity. Different sniper weapon systems have different wind marker values. There are seven time-of-flight wind dots on each horizonal stadia line.

For example, an M110 has a wind value of 4, resulting in the following speeds from center outward: 4 miles per hour, 8 miles per hour, 12 miles per hour, 16 miles per hour, 20 miles per hour, 24 miles per hour and ending at 28 miles per hour. It is crucial to recognize that the wind speeds are the same for each drop line. As an example, the third wind marker speed equals 12 miles per hour for an M110 weapon system regardless of which drop line it occurs on. This means that no further calculations are required to place wind holds for different drop adjustments.

To determine the wind dot value of your system, in your Applied Ballistic engine, turn off the spin drift calculation, then find the range in which 4 Mils is your elevation hold. Adjust the full wind value until you have as close to a .95 Mil hold as you can.

SPUHR MOUNT

The Spuhr mount is an extremely sturdy scope mount, with the possibility to attach multiple optical accessories directly to the mount. The mount has a built-in bubble level to help offset shooter-induced cant. A 45-degree split of the rings provides unobstructed view of the knobs. The sniper’s rifle and the spotter’s carbine can have the same mount, enabling the use of the same or shared equipment and accessories.

Traditionally weapon-mounted lasers have been mounted on the forend of the rifle, a solution with drawbacks. For the same reasons you don’t want your barrel to touch the forend you don ?t want the sights to be mounted on the forend. The Spuhr mounting system has up to seven interfaces for accessories, and the laser can be easily attached to the scope mount, providing the advantage of an undisturbed laser and having the weight close to the center of the gun instead of forward.

For weapon-mounted laser rangefinders, the direct-view optics are decoupled from the laser rangefinder itself. The sniper must manually align the laser rangefinder (LRF). Improper alignment results in poor ranging capability as well as inaccurate range measurements. To take full advantage of LRF performance, snipers want to ensure that a maximum amount of the laser energy is focused on the target and not scattering off of adjacent areas. At 1000 meters, if the laser rangefinder is misaligned 0.5 Mil low, this could result in an error in the range measurement of up to 5 meters, which could drop the probability of hitting the target by as much as 30 to 40 percent. Weapon-mounted LRFs rely on the rifle scope’s reticle for alignment. If the sniper dials windage or elevation corrections for ballistics, it will ruin the reticle’s alignment with the laser.

E-DOPE READER

The E-Dope is an electronic display used to clearly display target data. Utilizing E-Paper technology, the display is sunlight readable at extreme angles. The display is battery-less, utilizing NFC technology from your Android device to update the display. The E-Dope display is intended for fast-paced target shooting where multiple targets are to be engaged under time constraints. The display uses the E-Dope and Kestrel Ballistic Link Android applications. The E-Dope application allows you to save an indefinite list of stages with multiple targets. This allows the user to pre-save target distances, elevation and wind holds and load them to the E-Dope display when needed.

Using the E-Dope card is easy. Simply input all your required data into either the E-Dope application or the Kestrel Ballistics Link application. Hold the back of your Android device to the front of the E-Dope card. You will get a status bar showing the transfer progress and a message stating “Transfer Complete.”

Dimensions: 2.13in x 3.37in x 0.145in
Viewable Screen Size: 2.9in
IP54 rated: Dust- and Water-Re-sistant
Operating Temp: -10°F to 130°F
Attachment Method: Hook and Loop
Data Transfer: Android Application

ENGAGEMENT CYCLE

Once in the firing position, both the sniper and the observer are responsible for ensuring the sniper hits the target with one shot. The key to success is communication. The sniper team members may communicate however they feel comfortable, as long as their means of communication are effective and concise. With the assistance of the E-DOPE, Applied Ballistic software, a weapon-mounted laser rangefinder, and the robust design of the Leupold rifle scope, the sniper team is able to quickly begin the engagement cycle, which consist of four steps:

Step 1. Target identification—The sniper team identifies and determines that engagement is needed or a leader has directed it.
Step 2. Target acquisition—The sniper team makes the following assessment: Positive identification, weapon capability and individual proficiency.
Step 3. Target engagement—Sniper teams use the shot process and the functional elements of the shot process to engage a target.
Step 4. Target assessment—Sniper teams assess the effects on target and situation.

As dawn breaks over the horizon, the sniper team identifies an enemy combatant emplacing an IED on the side of the road. The team radios to command, informing them of the situation unfolding. Given the green light to engage, the sniper confirms the target distance via his weapon-mounted laser rangefinder, and by quickly glancing at the E-DOPE reader, he holds over the respected Mils in his TReMoR3 reticle and peers through his Leupold rifle scope; with the bend of his index finger, a shot hisses out from the end of the suppressed barrel. Like ripples in a pond, the spotter sees the trace of the bullet traveling at supersonic speed. The tiny projectile arriving to do its job well before the sound does and in less than a second, the enemy combatant is neutralized. The sniper team radios back to command and continues to scan for targets of opportunity.

Foxfury Lighting Solutions, which specializes in portable LED headlamps, flashlights, shield lights and more, has now introduced T.E.D.D.—Tactical Electronic Distraction Device. It is a light grenade—a reusable substitute for a flashbang grenade. A light grenade is a tactical light that is thrown in dark environments to both confuse a perceived threat and provide illumination over 360 degrees. T.E.D.D. is designed to mimic a flashbang without causing injuries. Its 2,600 lumen LEDs are bright enough to confuse without causing injury. Its 120dB whistle aids in causing confusion.

A distraction device can be used in certain circumstances such as hostage rescue, riots, barricades and high-risk warrant situations. T.E.D.D.’s side casing is high temperature polycarbonate attached to a steel base with a heavy nylon top cover. It can be thrown through windows, dropped three stories onto concrete, submerged to 10 feet, stepped on and driven over by a Mazda (Yes, I did! Not on purpose—I swear).

The rechargeable battery has a 60-minute continuous operation cycle and can be recharged in 1.5 hours. The battery is good for 500 charges. The included DC charger attaches to a charging port on the metal base.

Using T.E.D.D.

To operate, press the On-Ready-Off switch once. A green light will let you know that the unit is ready. To deploy, press the switch again, and the green light will start to blink. Now would be a good time to give T.E.D.D. a toss. To deactivate, press the switch once more; the green light goes off.

To program light and sound, the On-Ready-Off switch must be in Off mode. The programming switch is located next to the On-Ready-Off switch. Programming must be set within four seconds:

One press—light and sound (10 seconds on, 15 seconds off, repeats)
Two presses—sound only
Three presses—light only
Four presses—turbo strobe and sound
Five presses—turbo strobe only
Six presses—two seconds on strobe and sound, six seconds off, repeats
Seven presses—safety lock

The activation delay can be changed by using the same programing switch; however, the unit must be in Ready mode with the green light on:
Press once—two seconds delay
Press twice—four seconds delay
Press three times—seven seconds delay
Press four times—10 seconds delay

SPECIFICATIONS

Light: 2,600 lumen LED: 360 degrees horizontally, 110 degrees vertically
Sound: 120dB @ 3ft
Submersible: 10ft
Shock resistant
Rechargeable
Seven programmable light and sound modes
Four programmable activation delays
On-Ready-Off switch
For more information about Foxfury, see foxfury.com

Its reputation is legendary. An extensive review of a variety of respected firearms reference texts fails to uncover anything positive written about the Japanese Type 94 handgun. Everybody with access to a typewriter, word processor or computer seems to despise it. Where Georg Luger’s Parabellum oozes a sensual elegance and John Browning’s 1911 personifies utilitarian effectiveness, the Nambu 94 is simply viscerally repugnant. As such, when a low-mileage copy popped up on Gunbroker.com it was time to see what all the fuss was about.

The Type 94 was designed by the esteemed Japanese firearms designer Kijiro Nambu as a commercial venture in 1934. Not surprisingly, the 94 Shiki Kenju or Pistol Type 94 sold poorly early on, but as the fortunes of war turned against the Japanese they had to take what they could get. By the time the American juggernaut crushed Japanese industry in 1945, around 70,000 copies had been produced. Early specimens were issued to aircrews and tank personnel, presumably in the forlorn hope that they might not actually have to be used. However, the design eventually found its way into all arms of the Japanese military.

Broad brush, this pistol is simply wretched in all respects. The 8mm cartridge it fires has a nominal diameter of 0.315 inches and is fairly underpowered for general military use, particularly with full-metal jacket rounds. The round was likely adequate for coward control and summary executions, but for combat use it must have been pitiful. The magazine holds six rounds when fully loaded.

Where shall we start? The first time I drew the action back and released it, the gun pinched the holy bejeebers out of my hand. This heralded an ignoble start to our relationship. The magazine on my gun is ridiculously tight and must be vigorously wrestled for removal. There will be no fast magazine changes executed with this bizarre design. The magazine does have an exposed button to assist in depressing the follower for loading, and that counts for something. However, the magazine floorplate has no positive retention so it gradually and inexorably works off toward the front over time. Without attention, the magazine’s entrails would eventually simply erupt out the bottom of the gun unannounced along with all the onboard ammunition. This feature alone must have demoralized many of the Emperor’s otherwise fanatical minions.

The geometry of the gun is innately wrong. The pistol grip tapers from top to bottom so it has a tendency to squirt out of the hand when squeezed vigorously. The front edges to the frame are left sharp to ensure that they remain as uncomfortable as possible regardless of the operator’s hold on the gun. The sights are utterly worthless, being too small and too low to be of any utility at arm’s length. There are some little dimples to facilitate a ready grasp on the magazine, but there would honestly be no reloading the gun otherwise.

The magazine release is a pushbutton accessible to the right thumb. This represents one of the few bright spots of the design though, as previously mentioned, it still requires a fair amount of elbow grease to remove the magazine. Grips are checkered a bit, and the safety is situated on the right rear of the frame as it should be. A technical treatise on its effectiveness would be forthcoming, but the safety on my gun, which is actually in fairly decent shape overall, is broken off. Towards the end of the war workmanship and materials grew notoriously shoddy. This fact combined with a design that seems more like a bad joke than a battlefield implement made the Type 94 a timeless object of martial derision.

My late-war sample is rife with tool marks and sports sharp edges aplenty. Variants produced even later in the war sported simple wooden grips that look like they were harvested from loading pallets. However, it is easy to find fault from the comfort of my writing chair. These poor slobs were building guns with 1000-pound general purpose bombs and countless tons of aerial incendiaries showering down on their heads from the bellies of B29 Superfortress. While the marginal workmanship and substandard materials are forgivable given the circumstances, the innately flawed nature of the design is not.

Turning Ammunition into Noise

8mm Nambu ammunition is justifiably obsolete so you’ll not be finding it for sale at your local Wal-Mart. As the possibility of ever firing enough of the stuff to justify reloading was impractical we just sucked it up and bought a few rounds online. Don’t think this was easy. This writer has purchased functioning firearms for what that crummy reloaded Japanese ammunition set me back.

The action naturally lacks a positive disconnector to prevent the gun from firing out of battery so a glance at the ejection port between shots is a wise idea to prevent an out-of-battery discharge. Just in case his spirit tires of the vitriolic slander, Colonel Nambu’s ghost can reach out from the grave and kill you with his lousy pistol should you be inattentive to the details and try to cycle the gun too rapidly. Recoil is fairly trivial given the anemic nature of the cartridge, and accuracy is about what you might expect from a legendarily heinous service pistol that essentially has no sights worthy of the term. Little about the shooting experience is pleasant, effective or intuitive.

Magazine changes take about a lifetime due to the sticky nature of the design, but there were no failures to feed or eject in my admittedly limited live-fire trial. We could have considered further testing, but the ammunition might as well have been turned from solid gold given how much it costs. The bolt, if that is the proper term in this case, reciprocates out of the back of the frame of the gun, but there is sufficient beavertail to keep it from biting the shooter’s hand, my initial experience notwithstanding. Thank goodness for small miracles. There is also a serviceable lanyard loop attached to this beavertail. Ejection is straight out the top as is the case with the more-familiar Luger-esque Nambu Type 14.

We saved the best for last. For some unfathomable reason, Colonel Nambu chose to design the sear bar as an exposed assembly along the left side of the frame. As a result you can literally squeeze the gun from the sides with your fingers, depress this bar and fire the weapon without ever touching the trigger. The safety blocks the sear bar, but, as previously mentioned, the materials on my copy are so awful my safety is broken off.

The rumor that floated about the South Pacific during World War II was that this capacity to fire without manipulation of the trigger was perhaps intentional. In the context of the Pearl Harbor attack the Japanese had shown themselves to be a shifty lot. GI’s therefore presumed the Type 94 Nambu was so designed as to allow the Emperor’s soldiers to ambush hapless Americans while feigning surrender. While this makes for a good story, the more likely motivation was simply negligent, crummy design.

Never let it be said that we gun writers lack commitment to our art. After armoring my ears and eyes, slipping into a pair of Nomex gloves, loading a single round, clearing the immediate area and holding the gun by the sides around the far side of a tree with the muzzle downrange, we put this legendary engineering flaw to a practical test. As suspected, a little pressure on the side of the weapon caused a discharge. Concern for the safety of our intrepid gun photographer precludes photographic evidence of this adventure. Fortunately, recoil was so mild that the gun did not end up in the nearby lake. All things being equal, that might not have been an entirely bad thing.

Overall, the Nambu Type 94 is every bit as awful as everybody said it would be. The cartridge is anemic, the ergonomics are abysmal, and the gun could legitimately fire inadvertently while being holstered, hefted or simply laid left-side-down on an uneven surface. In its prime with a proper lot of ammunition the Type 94 might be better in a firefight than foul language and obscene gestures but not by a tremendous margin. After an afternoon spent on the range with one of these remarkable weapons it finally becomes obvious why all those Japanese soldiers carried swords.

It is admittedly easy to armchair-quarterback and dissect the failings of a particular gun’s design from the comfort of my living room. In the interest of fairness, Nambu did design the weapon in the days before Solidworks, CNC milling machines and finite element analysis. However, Georg Luger, Paul Mauser, Hugo Schmeisser, John Browning and Hiram Maxim enjoyed the same working conditions, and their products could pass for art in dim light.

Some of Colonel Nambu’s other projects were actually fairly innovative. Perhaps in the case of the Type 94 pistol he just had an off day. Regardless, as is the case with the Pontiac Aztec, bell bottom blue jeans and the timeless movie classic “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” some creative products are just so hideous that they earn for themselves a place in history based not upon their merits but rather for their more ignoble attributes. It is such stuff that earns the Nambu Type 94 service pistol the lamentable title, “Worst Combat Handgun in Military History.”

Special thanks to Mark at worldwarsupply.com for the Japanese equipment used in support of this article.

MESA TACTICAL
SureShell Hook & Loop Carriers

Hook & Loop SureShell carriers combine our SureShell Polymer carrier yoke with 3M SJ3572 hook fastener material laminated to a 3/?32” Formex 94 substrate. This allows Hook & Loop SureShell carriers to be easily attached to and removed from surfaces, such as shotgun receivers and MOLLE vests, covered with mating loop material. The Hook & Loop SureShell carriers are sold with an adhesive-backed 3M SJ3571 loop fastener that can be glued directly to a shotgun receiver. For Three Gun competitors who do not want to permanently affix the loop fastener material to their shotguns, we also offer loop fastener bracket kits that are attached mechanically and can be easily removed at any time. Please note: these Hook & Loop Mount kits do not include the Hook & Loop SureShell carriers, which are sold separately. mesatactical.com

SMITH & WESSON
SW22 Victory Target Model Pistol

Chambered in .22 LR, the new SW22 Victory Target Model pistol incorporates features designed for competitive target shooting, including target sights, custom target thumb rest grip and polished feed ramp. smith-wesson.com

The new SW22 Victory Target Model pistol features include:

• 5.5-inch bull barrel
• Target trigger with adjustable trigger stop
• Black blade front sight and adjustable rear target sight
• Textured, polymer target thumb rest grip panels for both right- and left-handed shooters
• Picatinny-style rail for use with an optic
• The SW22 Victory Target Model pistol is available with a 10+1-round capacity and ships with two magazines.

TANGODOWN

OD Green Additions to the Vickers Tactical Lineup

We’re pleased to announce OD Green accessories being added to the Vickers Tactical Glock accessory line. Take advantage of your favorite VT Glock accessory in OD Green or the other colors already available. See below listing of parts available in OD Green:

• Glock 43 +2 Extension (VTMFP-006?/43)
• Glock 43 Mag Release (GMR-006?/43)
• Glock Floor Plates (VTMFP-001)
• Glock Mag Release for Gen 4 Models 17/19/22/23/26/27/31/32/34/35/37 and Gen 5 Models 17 & 19 (GMR-003)
• Glock Grip Tool for Gen 4 Models 17/19/22/23/31/32/34/35 and Gen 5 Models 17 & 19 (GGT-02)

All information can be found under the “Items for Glock” tab. TangoDown.com

ALIEN GEAR HOLSTERS
ShapeShift Driver Defense Holster and ShapeShift Driver Defense Expansion Pack

Alien Gear Holsters’ ShapeShift Driver Defense Holster and ShapeShift Driver Defense Expansion Pack offer a non-invasive way to secure your firearm in the most accessible position while commuting. Designed to be easily installed and compatible with the most popular vehicle seats, the Driver Defense Holster buckles around the vehicle seat and secures the firearm between the knees. The holster is compatible with the ShapeShift Modular Holster System and is intended to make it convenient and safe to transfer the carrier’s firearm from their holster to their vehicle. The Driver Defense Holster offers an alternative option for those who need to secure their firearm when driving, but want a less permanent solution. Compatible with the ShapeShift Modular Holster System, carriers can press the quick-release button on their current holster and transfer their firearm with a fully covered trigger to the Driver Defense Holster in one quick motion. This vehicle holster is also compatible with the Cloak Mod OWB Holster. The ShapeShift Driver Defense Holster comes with Alien Gear Holsters’ Forever Warranty and 30-Day Test Drive. aliengearholsters.com

CMMG
MkW ANVIL XLR2

CMMG has announced the release of its all-new MkW ANVIL XLR2 chambered in 6.5 Grendel for long-range hunting. CMMG’s MkW ANVIL is a mid-sized AR rifle platform that is uniquely engineered to easily handle calibers with large casing diameters and significantly high bolt thrust. The most defining feature of the ANVIL is CMMG’s unique POWERBOLT design, which allows the rifle to utilize a modified AR-10-sized bolt for increased durability. cmmginc.com

The rifle includes:

• 22-inch barrel with 1:8 Twist for maximum long-range accuracy
• Geissele Automatics SSA 2-stage Trigger
• Fully ambidextrous CMMG charging handle and safety selector
• CMMG SV muzzle brake and RML15 MLOK hand guard
• Magpul Moe pistol grip and PRS stock
• Each MkW ANVIL in 6.5 Grendel ships with one 10-round magazine and is backed by CMMG’s Lifetime Quality Guarantee.

SMITH & WESSON
M&P Bodyguard 38 Revolver

The new non-laser M&P Bodyguard 38 revolver features a gray, polymer grip, updated styling and a serrated ambidextrous cylinder release that is easily operated by left-handed shooters. Chambered in .38 S&W Special +P, the new M&P Bodyguard 38 revolver is double-action only and features a 1.875-inch stainless steel barrel with a lightweight, one-piece aluminum alloy upper frame, making it an ideal choice for concealed carry and personal protection. The revolver also features a pinned, black ramp front sight, ambidextrous cylinder release and a smooth trigger pull with a 5-round stainless steel cylinder. smith-wesson.com

TRIJICON
1-8 x 28 AccuPower LED Riflescope

The Trijicon AccuPower 1-8×24 offers the ultimate in versatility, durability and functionality for a variety of applications. Packed with features for the serious shooter, Trijicon’s 1-8x AccuPower is built around a first focal plane reticle to enhance speed and accuracy. Users enjoy superior optical clarity and brightness with Trijicon’s multi-coated, broadband anti-reflective glass. An increased exit pupil delivers better light transmission through the 34mm tube with a true one (1) power setting and a full eight (8) power at maximum using an integrated zoom ring and optional extender. Compact enough for any AR, hunting rifle, or carbine it provides a power range meeting most any practical need. trijicon.com

SIG SAUER
SIG 365 Ammunition

SIG SAUER, Inc. introduces new, high-performance SIG 365 Elite Performance Ammunition in 115gr 9mm SIG V-Crown and SIG full-metal jacket (FMJ) loads. Designed for optimal performance in short-barrel, concealed carry pistols, such as its namesake—the revolutionary P365 high-capacity, micro compact—SIG 365 ammunition uses low-flash, clean burning powders for maximum performance and shootablity. SIG V-Crown stacked hollow point ammunition is especially effective for personal defense. The proprietary V-Crown bullet delivers exceptional on-target energy with maximum weight retention and expansion for ultimate stopping power; the V-Crown’s coated, nickel-plated cases provide enhanced lubricity, superior corrosion resistance and reliable feeding and extraction. SIG FMJ training ammunition features durable, copper-jacketed bullets that stay with the lead on impact and offers affordability and performance. sigsauer.com

MESA TACTICAL
Sling Ring Shotgun Sling Mount for Rem 870

The simple and strong Sling Ring shotgun sling mounts fit between the shotgun receiver and stock and accept quick-release, hook-style sling attachments. The Sling Ring shotgun sling mount fits between the stock and the receiver of a tactical shotgun, providing a sturdy loop for the fitting of single-point or three-point slings featuring H&K-style hooks or Magpul Paraclip attachment points. Unlike similar sling loops, Mesa Tactical Sling Ring shotgun sling mounts are cast steel, not aluminum, and they have no sharp edges to catch on webbing or skin. They are available for left-side or ambidextrous mount. Finally, they are priced attractively so agencies can afford to install them on every shotgun in the armory. mesatactical.com

VERTX
Guardian and Assessor with WeaponGuard Technology

Vertx announces the launch of its new line of shirts designed to comfortably carry concealed weapons and gear. The collection includes the new Guardian button-down-style shirt and the Assessor polo. Both shirts are part of the Vertx VaporCore line, which includes garments powered by 37.5 Technology woven into their fabric, assisting to regulate the body’s core temperature. The WeaponGuard feature protects wearers from skin irritation caused by carrying concealed weapons without an undershirt. The Guardian shirt has an under layer that is designed to comfortably guard the skin from chafing caused by concealed weapons and is available in two solid colors and two modern plaid patterns in both long and short sleeve. The Assessor polo has a semi-compression under layer that is designed to remain tucked into the pant, protecting the wearer from skin irritation caused by concealed carry. The short-sleeve Assessor polo is available in three heathered colorways. vertx.com

NIKON SPORT OPTICS
P-TACTICAL SPUR Reflex Sight

For 2018 Nikon introduces the SPUR Reflex Sight to its new P-TACTICAL optics family, which can be used for a variety of applications. With a 3 MOA red dot, long battery life and an extensive list of features, SPUR is an ideal optic for virtually any firearm platform where fast, reliable, intuitive sighting is desired. Engineered with fully multicoated lenses and Nikon’s proprietary “TRUCOLOR” coating, the P-TACTICAL SPUR provides a clear, natural view for both-eyes-open sighting. The SPUR’s 3 MOA dot is adjustable with 10 levels of brightness and is centered within a 27mmx16mm sighting window for an extra-wide field of view with unlimited-and-non-critical eye relief. Battery life for the P-TACTICAL SPUR is estimated to be 15,000 hours of continuous usage; the red dot in the display will flash to indicate it is time to change batteries. The sight includes a removable Picatinny rail mount for fast, easy mounting to MSRs or any firearm with Picatinny rail or base and a protective hood that covers the sight during storage. The sight and its components are covered by Nikon’s 5-year warranty. NikonSportOptics.com

Richard D. Jones, The Lt. Col. George M. Chinn Award

The Chinn Award is perhaps the most prominent award ever presented in the small arms community. It is an honor the Small Arms Steering Committee weighs carefully. We are US-centric, of course, but on occasion a citizen of another country who is deemed to have contributed so much to our collective knowledge base and defense qualifies. Richard D. Jones is just such an Awardee.

Mr. Richard D. Jones:

• Curator Emeritus of the National Firearms Centre Collection, Leeds, UK (The former MOD Pattern Room).
• Editor-in-Chief, Janes Infantry Weapons (recently retired)
• Over half a century’s service to the warfighter.

While not a requirement of the award, it certainly gives a window into a candidate’s life if he or she has been in active military service and continued after to serve the end users in some capacity regarding small arms. Richard Jones’ long and distinguished career in the British Army began in 1961, and he ETS’d in 2007 with 45 years and 14 days in service. He served in “The Indonesia Confrontation” in Singapore and Sarawak; Intelligence cells in Germany and Malaya working with small arms; and during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Jones performed numerous services not to be discussed, as well as adapted new technologies and oversaw weapon and ballistic tracing in Northern Ireland. That was an 8-year post, and he met “Herself” there, his beloved wife Eleanor. Jones’ work on the “Improvised Weapons of the Irish Underground” is still the classic study. During the 1980s, Jones’ posting into Bulgaria led to him becoming an expert on many variations of the AK/PKM systems. In the early 1990s, Jones was tasked with forming a group of de-briefers to gather political, economic and military information of use from refugees in the Balkan region of fighting for Her Britannic Majesty’s government. This led to massive amounts of small arms intelligence shared with the US and NATO groups. Starting in 1994, Jones was the military liaison when he became Assistant Custodian of the MOD Pattern room (this was the period where this author had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Jones).

Richard was the man who helped thousands of UK, US and NATO military personnel in training and analysis of foreign weapon systems. Around 2003, Jones was made Custodian of the MOD Pattern Room, then of the National Firearms Centre, maintaining the services to all MOD and friendly military/intelligence personnel. He always ensured that there was a lifeline to researchers and authors who needed access to the collection to continue their work, thus ensuring that generations of small arms students had access to the knowledge pool there.

Richard D. Jones was a personal friend of General Kalashnikov and has been involved in small arms for over half a century; he has been a mentor, instructor, teacher, custodian, researcher and a guide to many thousands in the small arms world. He’s been in numerous combat zones performing military intelligence duties with small arms and has written thousands of scholarly works for the end users and students of arms. Thus, in the tradition of Colonel Chinn himself, Richard Jones was chosen as 2018’s Chinn Awardee.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The George M. Chinn Award is presented annually to honor a government or industry individual who, in the opinion of the Small Arms Division Executive Board, has made significant contributions to the field of small arms and/or infantry weapons systems. A significant contribution is considered to be a creative invention, new design or innovative concept in small arms weapons, ammunition or ancillary equipment that provides an advancement in the state-of-the-art or capability enhancement that clearly benefits the warfighting or general military capability of the United States. The Chinn Award may also be conferred as recognition to an individual who has performed sustained superior service in a career field of science, engineering, test & evaluation, manufacturing, program management, academic study & research, publishing or maintenance relating to military small arms or infantry weapons.

The Chinn Award is named in honor of LtCol George M. Chinn, a career Marine Corps officer who dedicated his life to the study, development and refinement of machine gun mechanisms. LtCol Chinn is remembered for his work as a gun designer and for having compiled a five-volume reference work titled, The Machine Gun.

Past Recipients of the Chinn Award:

1988 Thomas E. Cosgrove
1989 James Ackley
1990 John S. Wood, Jr.
1991 Roderic A. Spies
1992 not awarded
1993 Edward C. Ezell
1994 Richard E. Brown
1995 Joseph Unterkofler
1996 C. Reed Knight, Jr.
1997 Robert A. Trifiletti
1998 George E. Kontis, PE
1999 Vernon E. Shisler
2000 Salvatore A. Fanelli
2001 L. James Sullivan
2002 Ernst Mauch
2003 Phil Baker & Georges Chauveheid
2004 Ronnie Barrett
2005 Rich Audette
2006 Richard Swan
2007 Bill Dittrich
2008 Troy Smith
2009 Joel M. Goldman
2010 Frank Puzycki
2011 Chuck Buxton
2012 Dan Haywood
2013 Rudy Nedelka
2014 George Niewenhous
2015 Jim Schatz
2016 Philip H. Dater
2017 E. Daniel Shea

Stephen Toboz, Jr., The Gunnery Sgt Carlos N. Hathcock Award

It has never been enough for the Hathcock Awardee to have been a sniper; it’s about the service to the sniper community, the impact a prospective awardee has had, the contributions made. Stephen Toboz, Jr. was chosen to be the 2018 Gunnery Sergeant Carlos B. Hathcock Awardee because of the sacrifices and continuing contributions he has made to his brothers in the craft. Many of us knew Gunny Hathcock, and we hold his memory dear—keeping the flame alive is important to us.

Stephen Toboz, Jr. is a medically retired Petty Officer/Navy SEAL, who served as a SEAL sniper. He has been the Sniper Training Manager for Naval Special Warfare Command. He lost a leg as a result of a combat injury, persevered and returned to full duty with a prosthesis. His awards include a Silver Star with Valor and a Purple Heart.

The continued service is what highlights a Hathcock Awardee, and Stephen Toboz, Jr. has actively worked with both foreign and domestic snipers around the world to ensure their knowledge, skills and abilities were at the highest level possible. He created the annual Sniper Summit for the SF community and recognized the need for liaison with foreign allies as well as state and local police. He expanded the Summit to include assets outside SF while maintaining the necessary security. He invited SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) like Todd Hodnett, SGM Pete Gould, W. Hays Parks, Jeff Hoffman and Buford Boone to speak at the Summit and coordinated breakout sessions to promote candid dialog and sharing of technology. At this time, the attendance has grown from around 35 to over 300 attendees. This summit has become a must-attend for the sniping community.

Stephen Toboz, Jr.’s continued service to the sniper community has resulted in sharing technical information and coordination between the SF and LE communities and select foreign partners, as well as spreading the cutting edge of technology to those who need it, and for those reasons, the Small Arms Steering Committee is pleased to present the 2018 Hathcock Award to him.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Hathcock Award is presented to recognize an individual who, in the opinion of the Small Arms Division Executive Board, has made significant contributions in operational employment and tactics of small arms weapons systems which have impacted the readiness and capabilities of the U.S. military or law enforcement. A significant contribution is considered to be a superior performance of duties in an operational environment or the development of tactics or training. The Hathcock Award is named in honor of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock, II, USMC, a career Marine who dedicated his life to the service of this country in both the military and law enforcement communities. He was honest, tactful, considerate, courageous, quietly proud and determined in all things and all places from the range to the battlefield. “The Gunny” not only distinguished himself in combat as a scout-sniper but also as a competitive marksman and trainer. In his capacity as a trainer, he not only significantly impacted the current United States Marine Corps Scout-Sniper Program but also influenced the sniper programs of the other military services and similar law enforcement programs nationwide.

Past Recipients of the Hathcock Award:

1999 Carlos Hathcock
2000 Charles B. Mawhinney
2001 Bart Bartholomew
2002 Jim Owens
2003 Larry Vickers
2004 Steve Holland
2005 Pat Mitternight
2006 Allen Boothby
2007 American Snipers.org
2008 J. Buford Boone
2009 Lt. Commander Robert J. Thomas
2010 Jeff Hoffman
2011 SGM Jason Beighley
2012 MSgt Craig R. LaMudge, USAF (Ret)
2013 MSG Jim Smith
2014 not awarded
2015 SGM Pete Gould, USA (Ret)
2016 W. Hays Parks
2017 Todd Hodnett

Wilcox Industries Corporation, The James R. Ambrose Award

NDIA’s Small Arms Steering Committee chooses our awardees with care. In the case of the Ambrose Award, we really want to ensure that a company is more than a vendor. They must have a long track record of responsiveness to end users’ needs and products to match.

Wilcox Industries Corporation in Newington, NH, is deserving of the Ambrose Award. This 215-employee ISO 9001-2015 company has been agile and quick to take up end users’ needs and provide solutions and has done so for many years. They have a long history of partnering with other companies in the small arms industry to enhance the products that the end users utilize. Some examples:

1. HK—Wilcox has an 11-year history of manufacturing HK products for the US market, with zero delivery defects.
2. Colt—Wilcox has a 30-year history of interfacing and development with Colt.
3. SIG SAUER—Wilcox prototyped the first lot of SIG P229 handguns.
4. Barrett/Remington—Wilcox built the first weapon mounted laser rangefinder with a ballistic computer.
5. Ruger/Pinetree—Utilized the first cast stainless steel slide to manufacture the HK45F and HK45C handguns.
6. Nammo Talley—Under contracting authority of US Navy/Crane developed a LAW M72 shoulder launched Fire Control System.
7. Nammo Talley—Developed the first disposable trajectory mount for SMAW-D Rocket Launcher with unique attach/detach laser module.

This is all industry cooperation—their behind-the-scenes work is the real reason we wanted Wilcox Industries to have the Ambrose Award. Wilcox personnel look closely at the needs of those in harm’s way and try to work through the answers; NAVSPECWARCOM, USASOC, SOCOM and many other groups are constant customers. Whether it’s stabilizing soldier-based Night Vision, working for 40x53mm Fire Control Systems or the Wilcox Hybrid Life Support System, Wilcox is at the forefront in serving our military end users. For that, we chose them for the 2018 Ambrose Award.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Ambrose Award is established and presented periodically to recognize an Industrial Firm which, in the opinion of the Small Arms Committee Executive Board, has made outstanding contributions to the field of small arms systems. An outstanding contribution is characterized by exemplary commitment and contribution to the Armed Forces by delivering superior materiel that meets required operational capabilities and supports a high level of force readiness in the conduct of warfighting activities or homeland defense. Such contributions may be shown through a record of continual demonstration of emerging technologies, development of products and systems, establishment of enhanced production capabilities and integration of innovative weapons systems and supporting products and services required by the DoD and Allied countries.

The Ambrose Industry Award is named in honor of former Under Secretary of the Army, James R. Ambrose because of his recognition of the value and contribution of industry in meeting the needs of our National Defense. This was made unmistakably clear during his tenure from 1981-1988 as Under Secretary of the Army during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. He was a major force in the post-Vietnam modernization of all small arms weaponry where new and improved versions of the M16, M249 and M9 were purchased in large quantities as a result of industry competitions. 

Past Ambrose Award Winners

2008 St. Marks Powder
2009 Otis Technologies
2012 Winchester Ammunition
2013 Surefire
2017 Oehler Research Inc.

The Impact of Mass Violence on Gun Control in the United States

The following article is taken from a Reeves & Dola (www.reevesdola.com) alert published on March 20, 2018, authors Johanna Reeves and Katherine Heubert.

In the immortal words of Bob Dylan, “The times, they are a-changin’.” Again. The tragic Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida could very well be a tipping point in the push towards stricter gun control in the United States. History shows that gun control legislation is born out of acts of violence. And now, on the heels of another mass shooting, we are living in a defining moment in time for gun control as evidenced by the plethora of political and academic commentary, protests and a very active Congress.

A quick look at pending legislation in the Congress reveals that since January 2017, anywhere from 99 to more than 190 bills have been introduced (the number depends on whether the search term is “gun,” “firearm” or “weapon”). There has been a flurry of activity since the Stoneman Douglas shooting, and we will examine some of these bills. Before we look at the present, however, we want to look back at the history of our country’s major gun control laws. Understanding the history will surely lend valuable insight into the current legislative activity.

1934

The first federal gun control legislation was the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA), which imposed a tax on the making and transfer of firearms defined by the Act, such as machineguns and short barrel rifles and shotguns. The legislation arose out of the gangland violence of the 20’s during Prohibition. “While the NFA was enacted by Congress as an exercise of its authority to tax, the NFA had an underlying purpose unrelated to revenue collection. As the legislative history of the law discloses, its underlying purpose was to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions in NFA firearms. Congress found these firearms to pose a significant crime problem because of their frequent use in crime, particularly the gangland crimes of that era such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” ATF National Firearms Act Handbook, ATF EPublication 5320.8, p. 1 (April 2009).

1968

The 60’s were a turbulent time in America. Iconic leaders President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy all were assassinated with firearms. In 1966, Charles Whitman killed 14 people and injured 31 others while shooting from the main building of the University of Texas at Austin. This shooting stood as the deadliest shooting on a U.S. college campus until the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. Congress passed the Gun Control Act of 1968 to regulate interstate commerce in firearms by prohibiting interstate transfers except through licensed firearm manufacturers, dealers or importers. The statute also established a list of persons prohibited from possessing or receiving firearms.

1993

In the wake of the murder of John Lennon and an assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan, Congress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. This established a national background check system, known as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) must run all prospective non-licensed buyers through NICS to determine whether the buyer is eligible to receive a firearm.

1994

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) of 1994 (expired in 2004), was the result of a series of mass shootings that happened in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the Stockton schoolyard shooting in Stockton, California in 1989, the Luby’s shooting in Killeen, Texas in 1991 and the 101 California Street shooting in San Francisco, California in 1993. The Stockton shooting involved a semi-automatic rifle, and San Francisco involved a semi-automatic pistol.

2018

Once again we find ourselves at another pivotal time of mass violence. Over the past five years alone, since the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, there have been at least six mass shootings in our country that have taken the lives of more than 10 people (not to discount the other shootings that have taken place in which less than 10 people have lost their lives). These mass shootings include the Washington, DC, Navy Yard shooting in 2013, the San Bernardino attack in 2015, the Orlando night club shooting in 2016, the Las Vegas shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in 2017, the Texas First Baptist Church shooting in 2017 and finally the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting earlier this year on February 14.

Propelled by a renewed call for change following the Las Vegas shooting and the wave of protests following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Congress has introduced multiple new pieces of legislation that attempt to address the issue of gun violence. Not surprisingly, each piece of legislation, if ultimately enacted, could impact the firearm and ammunition industry in some way. As of the date of this alert, more than 50 such bills have been introduced in the first few months of 2018 alone. Proposals include raising the age to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles to 21, reinstating the semi-automatic assault weapons ban and amending the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to disclose in an annual report any substantial financial relationship with any manufacturer or dealer of firearms or ammunition.

A listing of some of the pending legislation (in descending order of introduction), with links to additional information, is provided below.

H.R. 5620: Armed Prohibited Persons Act of 2018—A bill to direct the Attorney General to make grants to States to develop systems to retrieve firearms from armed prohibited persons. Introduced on 4/25/2018 by Rep. Jimmy Panetta [D-CA-20]. Cosponsors 1 (D).

H.R. 5607: Handgun Licensing and Registration Act of 2018—To provide for the mandatory licensing and registration of handguns and for other purposes. Introduced on 4/24/2018 by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman [D-NJ-12]. Cosponsors 7 (D), including Eleanor Norton [D-DC-0], Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL-23] and Frederica Wilson [D-FL-24]. There is a similar Senate bill (S. 2662) that would provide for a grant program for handgun licensing programs, introduced by Chris Van Holland Jr. [D-MD].

H.R. 5560: Defective Firearms Protection Act—To amend the consumer product safety laws to repeal the exclusion of pistols, revolvers and other firearms from the definition of “consumer product” under such laws. Introduced on 4/18/2018 by Debbie Dingell [D-MI-12]. No cosponsors.

H.R. 5410: SAFER Now Act—To improve public safety through sensible reforms to firearms regulations. This bill, 142 pages in length, was introduced on 3/26/2018 by Rep. Joyce Beatty [D-OH-3]. 2 Cosponsors (D). See also related bills H.R. 5087 and H.R. 5077 (below).

S. 2627: Ammunition Background Check Act of 2018—A bill to “appropriately restrict sales of ammunition.” Introduced on 3/22/2018, by Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]. Cosponsors 2 (D).

S. 2607: Extreme Risk Protection Order and Violence Prevention Act of 2018—A bill to provide family members of an individual who they fear is a danger to himself, herself, others or law enforcement, with new tools to prevent gun violence. Introduced on 3/22/2018 by Marco Rubio [R-FL]. Cosponsors 5 including Joe Manchin [D-WV], Jack Reed [D-RI], Bill Nelson [D-FL] and Susan Collins [R-ME].

H.R. 5380: Securing Our Children Act of 2018—To establish a Commission on Securing our Nation’s Children and for other purposes. Introduced on 3/22/2018 by John Katko [R-NY-24]. Cosponsors 2 (1I, 1D).

H.R. 5398: 21 to Buy Act—To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the age at which a rifle or shotgun may be acquired from a federally licensed firearms dealer and for other purposes. Introduced on 3/22/2018 by Theodore Deutch [D-FL-22]. Cosponsors 7, including Peter King [R-NY-2] and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL-27]

S. 2546: MASS Act—A bill to provide grants to States to encourage the implementation and maintenance of firearms licensing requirements and for other purposes. Introduced on 3/14/2018 by Ed Markey [D-MA] with 1 cosponsor, Elizabeth Warren [D-MA].

H.R. 5286: Mass Violence Prevention Reform Act—To impose a 60-day moratorium on the transfer or receipt of an assault rifle and for other purposes. Introduced on 3/14/2018 by Brian Mast [R-FL-18]. Cosponsors 2, including Peter Kin.

H.R. 5271: Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act—To repeal certain impediments to the administration of the firearms laws. Introduced on 3/14/2018 by Barbara Lee [D-CA-13]. Cosponsors 3 (D).

H.R. 5257: Secure Communities and Safe Schools Act—To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to prohibit the expenditure of certain grant funds to purchase firearms and for other purposes. Introduced on 3/13/2018 by Val Demings [D-FL-10]. Cosponsor Bernie Thompson [D-MS-2].

S. 2502: Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2018—A bill to address gun violence, improve the availability of records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, address mental illness in the criminal justice system, end straw purchases and trafficking of illegal firearms and for other purposes. Introduced on 03/06/2018 by Sen. Chuck Grassley [R-IA]. Cosponsors 5, including Ted Cruz [R-TX], Lamar Alexander [R-TN], Marco Rubio [R-FL], Tim Scott [R-SC] and Todd Young [R-IN].

H.R. 5164: Urban Progress Act of 2018—To expand economic opportunities, improve community policing, promote common-sense gun violence prevention in underserved communities and for other purposes. Introduced on 03/05/2018 by Rep. Robin L. Kelly [D-IL-2]. Cosponsors: 14 (D).

H.R. 5163: Keeping Guns from High-Risk Individuals Act—To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the sale or other disposition of a firearm to, and the possession, shipment, transportation or receipt of a firearm by, certain classes of high-risk individuals. Introduced on 03/05/2018 by Rep. Robin L. Kelly [D-IL-2]. Cosponsors: 21 (D).

H.R. 5162: Firearm Safety Act of 2018—To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to remove the exclusion of pistols, revolvers and other firearms from the definition of “consumer product” in order to permit the issuance of safety standards for such articles by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Introduced on 03/05/2018 by Rep. Robin L. Kelly [D-IL-2]. Cosponsors: 22 (D).

H.R. 5161—To require the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service to submit to Congress an annual report on the effects of gun violence on public health. Introduced on 03/05/2018 by Rep. Robin L. Kelly [D-IL-2]. Cosponsors: 56 (D).

S. 2492: NICS Denial Notification Act of 2018—A bill to provide for the reporting to State and local law enforcement authorities of cases in which the National Instant Criminal Background Check System indicates that a firearm has been sought to be acquired by a prohibited person, so that authorities may pursue criminal charges under State law and to ensure that the Department of Justice reports to Congress on prosecutions secured against prohibited persons who attempt to acquire a firearm. Introduced on 03/05/2018 by Sen. Pat Toomey [R-PA]. Cosponsors 11: 6 (D) 5 (R).

S. 2486: Safe Students Act—Introduced on 03/01/2018 by Sen. Rand Paul [R-KY]. No Cosponsors.

H.R. 5134: STOP Straw Purchases Act—Introduced on 03/01/2018 by Rep. Don Bacon [R-NE-2]. Cosponsors: 1 (D).

S. 2475: BUMP Act—A bill to amend the GCA to prohibit the illegal modification of firearms. Introduced on 02/28/2018 by Sen. Jeff Flake [R-AZ]. Cosponsors 3: 2 (D) 1 (R).

S. 2470: Age 21 Act—A bill to amend the GCA to prohibit the purchase of certain firearms by individuals under 21 years of age. Introduced on 02/28/2018 by Sen. Jeff Flake [R-AZ]. Cosponsors: 2 (D).

H.R. 5106: Investor Choice Against Gun Proliferation Act—To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to disclose in an annual report any substantial financial relationship with any manufacturer or dealer of firearms or ammunition. Introduced on 02/27/2018 by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks [D-NY-5]. Cosponsors: 6 (D).

H.R. 5103: Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act of 2018—To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the excise tax and special occupational tax in respect of firearms and to increase the transfer tax on any other weapon. Introduced on 02/27/2018 by Rep. Danny K. Davis [DIL- 7]. Cosponsors: 12 (D).

S. 2458: Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act—Introduced on 02/27/2018 by Sen. Susan M. Collins [R-ME]. Cosponsors: 7 (D) 3 (R) 1(I).

H.R. 5090: Raise the Age Act—Introduced on 02/26/2018 by Rep. Anthony G. Brown [D-MD-4]. Cosponsors: 25 (D) 3 (R).

H.R. 5088: No MAGA Act—Introduced on 02/26/2018 by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [D-TX-18]. Cosponsors: 1 (D).

H.R. 5087: Assault Weapons Ban of 2018—Introduced on 2/26/2018 by Rep. David N. Cicilline [D-RI-1]. Cosponsors: 176 (D).

H.R. 5077: Assault Weapons Ban of 2018—Introduced on 02/20/2018 by Rep. Frederica S. Wilson [D-FL-24]. Cosponsors: 1 (D).

H.R. 4786: Protecting Communities from Lost or Stolen Law Enforcement Weapons Act of 2017—Introduced on 01/12/2018 by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks [D-NY-5]. Cosponsors: 18 (D).

Other notable bills introduced in the Congress in 2017 include:

S. 2135: Fix NICS Act of 2017—Introduced on 11/28/17 by Sen. John Cornyn [R-TX-7]. Cosponsors 77: 43 (D), 32 (R), 2(I). There is an identical bill pending in the House (H.R. 4434). The Fix NICS Act of 2017 was enacted as part of the consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018. It was signed by the President on March 23, 2018.

S. 2095: Assault Weapons Ban of 2017—Introduced on 11/8/17 by Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D-CA]. Cosponsors 29: 28 (D), 1 (I).

It is important to note that all the above bills are at the very beginning stages of the legislative process, and the draft texts will change. History shows the push for new legislation has momentum on its side. Considering the current atmosphere and the public outcry after the Parkland shootings, it is quite possible we will see one or more new laws this year to add yet another layer of gun control in the United States.

The information contained in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as legal advice or as legal opinion. You should not rely or act on any information contained in this article without first seeking the advice of an attorney. Receipt of this article does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Johanna Reeves is the founding partner of the Washington, DC, law firm Reeves & Dola, LLP (www.reevesdola.com). For 15 years she has dedicated her law practice to advising and representing U.S. companies on compliance matters arising under the federal firearms laws and U.S. export controls. Since 2011, Johanna also has served as Executive Director for the F.A.I.R. (FireArms Import/Export Roundtable) Trade Group (http://fairtradegroup.org). In 2016, Johanna was appointed by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs to serve on the 2016-18 Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG). Johanna can be reached at 202-683-4200 or at jreeves@reevesdola.com.

By Jeffrey Folloder

Questions & Answers

Another Knob Creek shoot is in the books, and the NFATCA is heading to Dallas, Texas for the NRA Annual Meeting. We make the effort to attend many events so that we can perform one of our most crucial tasks as a service organization: membership outreach. There is always a steady stream of questions to be answered. Many of the questions are ones that we have heard many times before and quite regularly throughout the years. Others present a new twist on an old inquiry, and a few are genuinely new or novel. Perhaps it is time to review the common things we hear and point folks toward trusted resources?

A gentleman sidles up to our tables at The Creek and offers a furtive glance to the left and to the right. In hushed tones he begins to regale us with the story of how he discovered a Maxim suppressor at a garage sale in his hometown last summer. The gentleman confirms that he is a “fully legit” licensed 07/SOT manufacturer who plays by all the rules. He wants to know how he can go about registering his garage sale find. “You cannot.” “But I’m an 07! All I need to do is mark it with my information and file the Form 2.” We’ve gone through this ballet repeatedly over the years and have to explain that what he has is contraband. It was legal back in the day. It could have been registered during the one and only NFA amnesty. But now it is just contraband as an unregistered NFA item. You simply cannot register the unregisterable. Whether it is a Maxim can, an unregistered H&R Handy Gun or that bring-back machine gun in Grandpa’s attic, we must sadly refer the inquirer to the dictum: You cannot register the unregisterable.

“I broke up with my girlfriend. She told the cops that I was a bad guy, and now there is a domestic order on me. ATF came by and says I need to give up all of my guns. I’m an FFL!” This is where we have to explain why they really need competent legal counsel, that under the law they are currently a prohibited person and may not be in possession of firearms. This is also one of the points where we remind people why it is a good idea to have back up Responsible Persons (RP’s) on a license.

“I have never exported anything that I make as a manufacturer. The Internet says that I do not have to pay ITAR.” The Internet is wrong. Under current State Department administration of federal regulation, anyone who fits the description of manufacturer as the State Department defines it, must pay ITAR each and every year. Period. “I just do R&D. I never sell anything!” Doesn’t matter. Unless you are an accredited institution of higher learning, you will not qualify for a State’s R&D exemption. You may have slid under the radar in the past, but State will catch up. Every single 07 FFL in the United States is listed in Excel spreadsheet format in plain view on ATF’s website. And ATF’s inspectors are now asking about ITAR status. There is hope for ITAR being rolled back, but it has not happened yet. Register and pay each year or face the possibility that State believes you to be willfully avoiding your obligation.

“You guys are working on opening up another amnesty registration period. Cool! I’m going to head to my shop and whip up some machine guns and just wait until I can register them under amnesty.” It doesn’t quite work that way. The future possibility of an amnesty would not give persons incentive unlawfully to make NFA firearms with the idea of registering them under an amnesty. It is unlawful “to make a firearm in violation of the provisions of this chapter,” 26 U.S.C. §5861(f), and it would be unlawful to possess it thereafter (§5861(c), (d); §922(o)). A person who makes firearms before an amnesty could be prosecuted under all of these provisions. While an amnesty would immunize a person from the possessory offenses, the person could still be prosecuted for unlawfully making a firearm. (NOTE: Odds are that any potential Amnesty would be restricted at the very least to items made before 1986 and in all probability to before November 1968).

No, buying or registering an NFA weapon does not give ATF permission to come kick down your door, shoot your dog and inspect your firearms at any time. Yes, you can hunt with a suppressor in many states these days. How an NFA trust is written does make a difference. Some are great, some are not quite great, and some are particularly worthless … You get what you pay for. We get lots of questions, and we are happy to point folks in the right directions.

There are three main resources that the NFATCA will send folks to: the NFA Handbook (originally written by the NFATCA and currently available on ATF’s website); the eRegulation resource for firearms regulations available at regulations.atf.gov; and competent legal counsel. The last resource is never minimized because there simply is no substitute for engaging a professional when dealing with matters involving criminal or civil jeopardy. We answer questions when we can, find out more information when we come up short and will make connections with legal counsel for those who need it. We thank you for your continuing support!