FirearmProtector.com can help you eliminate the first threat by offering our own Steelgard® — an easy-to-use, industrial grade, three-in-one firearm protection product — developed to clean, protect and improve the reliability and smooth operation of all weapons.

As far as that second threat to your weapons is concerned, we can’t eliminate it for you — but we can help keep you informed. Knowledge is power. Our blog is designed to share information important to freedom-loving, weapon-owning individuals.

Our goal is to help you protect the weapons that protect you.

“The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed”

- Second Amendment

Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, is bending to the whims of the media. She recently announced that she will require the release of previously private information from State Police on who is authorized to own a gun. According to Madigan, AP news needs to publish this information, invading the privacy of law-abiding citizens, to have “accountability” for the inner workings of the government. It is a matter of public interest, according to this sunshine loving politician. Never mind about silly issues like the individual’s right to privacy.

In a letter acquired from the Attorney General’s office, parallels are made between the sharing of information between government bodies (as non-invasive toward individual privacy) and the release of this information to the media for publication. This comparison is inane at best. Despite the Illinois State Police Department’s best attempts to show how this was not only an invasion of individual privacy, but an issue of individual and public safety, they were told to produce the information to the Associated Press. Kudos to the ISP, by the way! (Raspberries to the Attorney General.)

The official “letter” quotes as a precedent, a city’s (Chicago) request for information from the federal FOIA records from the ATF. Although in this case the ATF “partially denied the request and withheld the names and addresses of manufacturers, dealer, purchasers and possessors from the Trace Database and the Multiple Sales Database under Sections (b)(6), 7(a) and 7(c) of the Federal FOIA…[it was ruled that] Firearms manufacturers, dealers and purchasers are on notice that records of their transactions are not confidential and are subject to regulatory inspection.”

So, it would seem that the AP is now elevated to the level of a “regulatory” agency by the Attorney General’s office? Surely, a city trying to stop a problem with crime is not on the same “need to know” basis as delivering the information in a tidy little package so any criminal perusing the newspaper can determine their next victim with the same ease that they might decide which classified ad to answer. Although the letter is correct in stating that people purchasing weapons are notified that their information will be shared with law enforcement agencies — NONE of them were told that their names would also be printed in the paper. That comparison holds no water either.

It’s ironic that the Attorney General’s website features such topics as:

• Defending your rights
• Advocating for women
• Safeguarding children
• Keeping communities safe
• Helping crime victims

…all the while trampling gun owner’s rights to privacy, putting communities at risk for home invasion, assisting in crimes against women, children and families by advertising who has guns to steal and who is unarmed and easier to make a victim. The Police have taken great trouble to keep the Firearm Owners Identification card information confidential and have resisted following this directive to change that policy.

If you want to support their attempts, The Campaign for Liberty has started an online petition to reverse this decision.

(NOTE: The New York Times recently acquired a similar list for New York residents as did a Roanoke, VA newspaper for Virginia residents. The latter was pulled soon after publication, due to pubic outcry — but that’s too little, too late… don’t you agree?)

During the aftermath of the Katrina disaster, August 29, 2005, to December 31, 2005, authorities confiscated and/or destroyed legally possessed weapons from their owners, according to news reports and eyewitness accounts. Armed National Guard and Police officers went house-to-house and took the weapons, refusing to provide any receipts and (according to witnesses) even destroying family heirloom weapons on the spot (watch the videos below for details).

At this point, you can “apply” for the return of your firearm — but there are multiple hoops you have to jump through — and there is no guarantee that they will ever be found or returned. The paperwork just means they will “conduct a search” for your weapon(s). You also have to sign a “hold harmless” waiver, witnessed by a notary, and you may be required to get a court order. There is also a background check.

To learn more about this debacle, visit the City of New Orleans website and begin by downloading the paperwork.

In the last couple of weeks, a bill (H.R. 308) has been proposed to limit the number of bullets in the magazine in your weapon (brought to you by Democrat Carolyn McCarthy of NY). It not only would ban the sale of these, it would make you a criminal if you possess one, unless you can prove that you owned it before the bill was passed. Read the entire bill.

A second, more far-reaching one (The so-called Common Sense Firearm Act of 2011), has proposed that you prove your worthiness and need before being permitted to carry a concealed weapon — in ANY state in the union.

From Boxer’s own press release:

“Senator Boxer’s legislation would require all states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons to establish permitting processes that would include meaningful consultation with local law enforcement authorities to determine whether the permit applicant is worthy of the public trust and has shown good cause to carry a concealed firearm.”

Under this legislation you aren’t worthy unless proven worthy, and you are placed in a position to have to prove a need to carry a concealed weapon, rather than exercising your right to do so as a law-abiding citizen. If this passes, carrying a concealed weapon will no longer be a right, it will merely be something you can petition for through your local law enforcement organization. Isn’t that comforting?

These are just a couple things we thought you might like to know.

So you have your license to carry, but the piece you own isn’t really the one you want to tote around. What kind of gun should you try to find?

Personal Preferences

If you are the type that likes revolvers, that’s probably going to make you feel more secure than buying an automatic. Most people encourage the 9mm or so automatic route. (Some of us prefer revolvers because we are just that old fashioned and we refuse to budge.)

The type of gun isn’t as important as the quality of the piece and your comfort in holding it, drawing it, using it and transporting it. You may have to compromise on one or both to find the optimum concealed piece.

Considerations and Finding the Balance

Regardless of which model you select, the one you choose should be:

• Easy to port (consider weight, shape, smooth edges)
• Dependable (when you carry, you want to be sure it works when you need it)
• Easy to clean (you should be able to take it apart, clean it and reassemble with ease)
• Comfortably sized for your hand (forget how well it works for others)
• Durable (you don’t want a low-quality gun for carry)
• Safe to transport (no hair-triggers here)

You should also consider finding the best balance between minimum recoil and maximum fire-power. The lighter, easier to carry weapons usually have a smaller caliber bullet (which means it may not be as effective in stopping an assailant) or they are made from smaller, lighter weight frames (which dramatically increases the recoil kick when fired).

Practice Makes Perfect

Before selecting a particular model, you should shoot the same model of gun you are considering (if at all possible) and try carrying that style or a similar weapon. (Ask your friends who carry to let you try theirs on for size.)

Once you have selected and purchased your gun, be sure to practice with it regularly. Owning a gun and having a license to carry will not matter if you let your skills atrophy.

NOTE: Image courtesy of mconnors of MorgueFile.com.