Phoenix, AZ—Here in Arizona, where gun laws are few and liberty thrives, firearms enthusiasts have the rare privilege of legally owning suppressors. These misunderstood devices, often sensationalized as “silencers,” have a reputation steeped in Hollywood drama and misconceptions. But what’s the real story behind these so-called “spy weapons”? Let’s pull back the curtain. The Birth of a Legend The suppressor, commonly referred to as a silencer, was the brainchild of Hiram Percy Maxim, a brilliant inventor and son of the legendary machine gun designer Hiram Stevens Maxim. In 1909, he patented the “Maxim Silencer,” marketing it as a revolutionary tool to reduce firearm noise. But Maxim wasn’t just thinking about guns—he also adapted his sound-dampening principles to create automobile mufflers, another enduring invention. While clever, Maxim’s marketing stretched the truth. His device didn’t “silence” firearms; it merely dampened the explosive roar. Until 1934, suppressors were widel...

Los Angeles, CA — As we reflect on air travel discomforts and the tragedies of 9/11 and consider how to handle similar threats in the future, let us revisit a long-forgotten story with a very different outcome. The only hijacker ever shot aboard a U.S. airliner was stopped on September 15, 1970, aboard Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight 15, a Boeing 707. The flight, originating in Chicago and bound for San Francisco, had just completed a stopover in Los Angeles when Donald Irwin, a 27-year-old armed hijacker, seized control of the aircraft. Irwin, brandishing a firearm, threatened flight attendants in the aft galley and demanded the plane be diverted to North Korea. Unbeknownst to Irwin, the aircraft was neither equipped nor capable of such a journey. His plan was doomed from the start. However, the actions of one courageous individual ensured the safety of everyone onboard. A Captain’s Quick Thinking The pilot, Captain J.K. Gilman, was quickly informed of the hijacking and remem...

New York, NY—The cold-blooded, brazen murder of a UnitedHealth CEO recently reignited the national conversation about so-called “ghost guns.” But what exactly is a ghost gun, aside from being a sensationalized propaganda term? At its core, it is simply a firearm without a serial number. The push for serial numbers and gun registration has long been a favored strategy of politicians aiming to infringe on Second Amendment rights when outright bans on firearms were politically or constitutionally untenable. The end goal has often been the creation of a comprehensive registry to track every firearm in the United States—something that could facilitate future confiscation schemes if a total gun ban were ever implemented. Do Serial Numbers and Gun Registration Actually Solve Crimes? A basic application of common sense suggests they do not. The only time a firearm is typically left at a crime scene is when the criminal is incapacitated—dead or wounded—or caught in the act. In such cases, t...

  I don’t give a rat’s ass if my friends are conservative or liberal—what matters is our unwavering celebration of the Bill of Rights. These aren’t just lofty ideals; they are the backbone of our freedom. And yes, we must especially venerate the rights that some find inconvenient or annoying, those that protect the accused, the outcasts, and yes, even the guilty. Why? Because those same rights are the only shield standing between you and false allegations, torture, or even execution at the hands of a corrupt government. Never— ever —give an inch on your rights. Not one. These freedoms were not gifted to us; they were bought with the blood of young men who fought and died to preserve them. Throwing away even a single right because it feels unnecessary or inconvenient is an insult to their sacrifice and a betrayal of everything they stood for. Look at the world. In Syria, a repressive regime was toppled, only for its replacement to descend into the same darkness—or worse. That i...

  Ventura, CA—Imagine living in a world where you need an ID to do practically everything: buy liquor, fly on a plane, rent a car, or even pick up a package at the post office. Yet somehow, when it comes to voting—the foundation of our democracy—many politicians insist identification is not only unnecessary but actively oppressive. Apparently, it’s too much to ask for even a shred of verification to ensure our elections are secure. The logic behind this? Democrats have long argued that requiring ID to vote disproportionately affects minorities, particularly Black Americans, claiming voter ID laws are a tool of suppression. Never mind that this argument essentially paints minorities as too incapable of obtaining basic identification—a view that reeks of condescension. To “solve” this non-issue, they pushed through motor voter laws, which allowed anyone with a driver’s license to automatically register to vote. But wait, there’s more! The motor voter laws opened the floodgates f...

New York, NY — The whole world watched as an irate customer gunned down an insurance company CEO in New York. Sure, murder is a crime (we all agree on that, right?), but let’s not pretend the motivation came out of thin air. Apparently, this customer felt the insurance company had been a tad… let’s say, less than honest . For those not in the know, there’s a curious little rule in personal injury lawsuits: juries aren’t told that an insurance company will foot the bill. Why? Because everyone knows insurance companies excel at one thing—collecting premiums like clockwork. Paying claims? Eh, not so much. You’ve seen the commercials. Nice, friendly spokespeople assure us we’re “in good hands.” What they don’t show is the dark side: armies of lawyers and a well-oiled machine designed to delay, deny, and defend against paying out claims. Oh, you’ve got an airtight, 100% bulletproof case? Congrats, they’ll grudgingly pay—because they have to, not because they’re feeling generous. Now back ...