The Christmas season is traditionally a time of cheer! Most of us love relaxing and spending time with our families. But the brave men and women who make up our military don’t always have that luxury.
Instead, they keep on at their amazing duties even through Christmas Day – just as they have in the past!
Each of these historical events shows that our military can pull off feats of martial might or daring, anytime during the year… Even over the festive season, when they would otherwise be celebrating with their families were it not for their duties.
Let’s take a look at 5 major military events that happened on Christmas in the past, to remind us that we’re backed by the force that never skips a beat:
The first (and definitely the most famous) of these military events that happened on Christmas was General George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware.
If you aren’t aware of this legendary maneuver, here’s a recap:
Washington led the Continental Army through the winter of 1776. That winter was particularly harsh, and morale for the fledgling Army was at an all-time low.
Washington came up with a plan to use the distractions of a Christmas celebration to cross the Delaware River and fight the British, who were based in Trenton, New Jersey. This surprise attack led to a rousing military success and restored faith in the Continental Army's ability to fight back against the British forces.
This famous air campaign was one of the biggest bombing missions in history, and it took place during the Christmas season of 1972.
Then-president Richard Nixon ordered the bombings to commence when North Vietnamese delegates decided to leave the negotiation table.
The bombing was so effective that, on December 29, the North Vietnamese returned to negotiate with America and her allies.
This battle was one of the worst in the Civil War, at least for the Union – Christmas 1864 saw them attack the last port the Confederate Army had to the Atlantic Ocean.
It ended in a debacle and a horrific Union failure. However, it did lead to a revitalized second attempt the following January.
This time, the Union troops successfully defeated the traitorous Confederates, leading to the end of the Civil War three months later when the opposing army wasn’t able to resupply from global trade.
The War of 1812 was the first major conflict the young United States entered after our successful Revolutionary War. However, the War of 1812 had a long and difficult affair; even the White House was burned down.
America eventually saw triumph, especially once naval supremacy was established.
The Treaty of Ghent established a peace agreement between the United States and Great Britain, which allowed the War to end as a draw. This cemented US independence for the foreseeable future. In effect, it showed that the new nation could and would stand up for itself when pushed in international conflicts.
This last event technically isn’t related to the military, but the relationship between NASA and the U.S. Air Force is so close that they’re essentially counterpart organizations.
To this end, it’s important to remember the Christmas Eve of 1968, when Apollo 8 successfully orbited the moon and tested out the lunar module that would later be used for the famous Apollo 11 moon landing.
These momentous events serve as a great reminder for us to be grateful for our dedicated military personnel, for sacrificing time with their loved ones for the sake of our national defense and security.
And also, to bolster our confidence that the forces who provide the blanket of freedom we sleep under are always on alert, sleeping with one eye open, no matter what the occasion.
Thank you for reading, United we STAND.
Justin | 2A4Life
Maine, USA
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shop nowEvery American concerned about growing riots in the country, or who live in a storm-heavy location like New Orleans, need to have an emergency preparedness plan.
While it’s important to think about what you’ll bring with you when you evacuate, you’ll also need to factor your pets into your emergency preparedness plan to ensure they don’t get left behind in the chaos.
Here’s 5 ways to ensure our furry sidekicks stay by our sides as we get to safety, right where they belong:
Be sure to get an ID tag or collar for your pets as soon as possible, if you haven’t already.
Any collar should contain the name of your pet and contact information for you, like your phone number and the address of your nearest relative. Don’t forget to arrange new engraving to update their tag if you change phone number or address, too.
Skin-embedded ID microchips are an essential. Your vet can inject a chip easily if your pet doesn't have one already, then update your info on a database. Whoever finds your pet can take them to any vet’s office or animal shelter for a digital scan, which will bring up your details so you can be reunited.
To go even one better, grab a GPS tracker attachment for your pet’s collar to alert you to their every move.
You can set up “Safe Zones” around your property and your usual walkies routes, and the GPS app will ping you a text if your pet leaves their home base.
While memberships to the app server do incur a monthly fee, they utilize satellites to accurately and wirelessly track your pet if they run away prior to evacuation, for ultimate peace of mind.
Plus, for everyday non-emergency situations, these GPS tracker systems also allow you to chart your pet’s health stats and food intake, set activity goals, monitor their sleeping and licking habits, and set up vaccination reminders.
Lots of animals, and even the most well-trained dogs, can fall apart or panic when they hear the signs of chaos or disaster, especially if it's environment-related. Animals are much better than humans at detecting when a storm is coming, in more ways than one.
To compensate for this, be sure to factor in some extra time to load your pets into a crate or carrier before you evacuate from your home to a safe location.
They may be frightened and hide under a bed where it’s hard to reach them, or burrow themselves in their most comforting hiding place.
Have some treats handy to coax them out if they won’t budge, and try to remain calm as you’re reassuring them: Remember, our pets know us best and they can pick up on our every hint of stress.
You may also consider evacuating early and before it’s absolutely necessary, since your pet may be difficult to wrangle into a carrier and then into the car if the proverbial storm is already at your doorstep.
If you’re planning to stay at a hotel or motel as part of your evacuation plan, or even as a temporary measure before you can return home, be sure to investigate whether the establishment is pet friendly ahead of time. Pet-friendly lodgings are well worth the effort, though, and they aren’t as rare as you might fear.
Only some hotels and motels will allow you to bring a cat or dog with you under usual circumstances, and some of them may charge exorbitant cleaning fees.
Of course, being polite and respectful always goes a long way if hotels aren’t pet-friendly by policy.
Kindly letting the management know you’ve been evacuated helps when you ask if you can shelter there with your pet.
Assure hotel staff that you’ll be responsible for your pet during the stay, that you’re bringing pet bedding and blankets to protect the hotel furniture, and that your animal is potty trained.
They’ll be more likely to be helpful and let you stay if they know you respect their establishment, and that they won’t be risking any damage to the property by allowing your pet in the room with you.
Our animals are treasured parts of our families. That being said, you don't want to share the same drinking container with them if it can be avoided.
Additionally, providing clean drinking water for them is crucial, to avoid them drinking from puddles out of extreme thirst. In an emergency such as fire or flood, standing water your pet may find on the ground could potentially be tainted with harmful substances.
To that end, make sure that you plan to include an extra water bowl or container for your cat or dog, and be sure to offer water regularly if you're on the move.
As another tip, your pets need to drink just as often as you do, and possibly even more if they’re panicking and panting heavily. They just can’t tell you they’re thirsty, so be sure to offer them water each time you get thirsty to make sure they don’t get dehydrated.
Your pets will still need to evacuate their bowels and urinate from time to time. If you have a dog or cat, be sure that you incorporate places for them to do their business into your evacuation supplies and plan. This is especially important if you find yourselves sheltering in a bunker or enclosed shelter as you wait for the danger to pass, and can't take your pet outside.
For your hound, you can find absorbent potty pads in most grocery stores that are intended for puppy training. Lay a couple of them on the floor if you’re confined to a building during your evacuation, and direct your dog to it when he starts to sniff around looking for a place to pee.
Once he uses it correctly the first time, give plenty of praise and a treat- he’ll get the hang of it when he sees he did good!
It might be worthwhile to get disposable cat litter trays if you have a kitty in your family. These can easily be disposed of after your cat has done their business.
Try to have a leash handy in your survival kit too, so you can take your pet away from your car and let them relieve themselves in a field or by the road without giving them an opportunity to bolt into the wilderness.
Having our trusty sidekick always by our side and safe in emergency situations is crucial to keeping your morale high and the whole gang together.
It can help to assign one responsible family member the task of keeping tabs on where the pet is and making sure they’re safe, with a backup person to check in periodically on the pet if the assigned family member gets distracted in the chaos.
Our pets have our backs all day, every day. It's our duty and honor to treat them well and be sure not to leave them in harm’s way when the going gets tough.
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin | 2A4Life
Maine, USA
In the words spoken by FDR, December 7th, 1941 was a day that would “live on in infamy”.
Indeed, we still observe that date as the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, which changed both the course of World War II and the fate of the free world forever.
As we remember that dark day, let’s take a closer look at just how Pearl Harbor changed America:
Almost everyone knows that Pearl Harbor was the catalyst for America entering World War II.
Prior to this, America had supported its Western allies, such as Great Britain, and even allies in the Far East like Russia, by supplying valuable materials and munitions to their respective war efforts.
Pearl Harbor showed the American people that they could not afford to stay out of the conflict.
With the Americas entering the war, the tide decisively turned in favor of the Allies, who would ultimately win World War II with the help of US personnel and military power just a few years later.
Back at home, Pearl Harbor led to major domestic changes.
First and foremost of these were unprecedented workplace opportunities for women. You see, as men went off to fight overseas, manpower was still needed to produce the materials and munitions the Allied armies needed to fight World War II.
Women were the only ones available to perform this hard labor and they swiftly took over any other jobs that men had to abandon when they were drafted.
Thus, women moved into the workplace en masse for the first time, and this shift did not fully vanish when the war ended.
In fact, some historians believe that this change led to women’s continued presence in the modern workplace and the equality we enjoy today.
Pearl Harbor was a terrible affair. But in provoking the United States into entering World War II, it revitalized the American economy, which had significantly slumped during the Great Depression.
Since America was not being attacked domestically save for Pearl Harbor, it had the raw materials necessary to provide fuel, munitions, food, clothing, and practically every other good that other developed countries needed desperately.
Furthermore, America could produce these goods efficiently, uninterrupted by attacks or bombing. The result? Wealth poured into the United States, both during the war and after.
In fact, World War II is now credited with directly eliminating the economic woes of the Great Depression and ushering in the prosperous decades of the 50s-60s.
Perhaps most important of all, Pearl Harbor launched America into a leadership position.
Now the head of Western democracy, America became the undisputed leader of the free world. This was both a matter of circumstance and necessity – other democratic nations were ruined by World War II, while the United States emerged relatively unscathed.
As a result, the US was in the best position to oppose the rising threat of the Soviet Union at the start of the Cold War.
The US has remained the world’s de facto leader to this day.
Ultimately, Pearl Harbor forced the United States to evolve into its current form.
Where it once had humble beginnings as an offshoot colony, then became a revolutionary democracy... Now, the US is the leader of the free world and a force for good.
Pearl Harbor was a terrible day full of tragedy and destruction, but we as a nation have grown beyond it and emerged even stronger than we were before.
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin | 2A4Life
Maine, USA
It’s November once again. Aside from being election month, it’s also the time when we celebrate our Veterans.
A time for us to acknowledge the sacrifices they’ve made, and continue to make, in defense of our freedom.
In honor of National Veteran’s Month, we’re urging everyone to take a few steps to support their local VA hospitals. Even small gestures can go a long way.
Here are some ideas to jumpstart your support:
One of the best things you can do to support your local VA hospital is to make a financial donation.
The VA makes it incredibly easy to donate some of your next paycheck to one of the worthiest causes in America.
You can donate directly to your local facility, and all VA medical centers will accept donations through major credit or debit cards, or from a checking or savings account.
Best of all, you know that 100% of your donation is used to support veterans.
If you head to your local VA hospital's website, you're even able to specify what fund your money is to be used for.
We’d highly recommend this option.
The VA hospitals across America can always use more buying power to support our veterans and troops.
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SHOP NOWYou can use the same donation page on your local VA hospital's website to sign up to volunteer your time at one of the medical facilities.
You will need to submit personal information and a list of your applicable skills. But it’s one of the best ways to “walk the walk” and personally support the VA hospitals in your local area.
This is even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Right now, many VA hospitals are easily overwhelmed by an influx of veteran patients and required tests for COVID-19.
You can do your part and help shoulder some of the burden by volunteering the most valuable currency of all: your time.
If you’d rather support your local VA hospitals in another way, considering helping plan various memorial services or ordering headstones for veteran funerals.
Headstones and other associated costs for funerals can be devastating, especially for families that don’t have a lot of money to spare.
You can donate your money to these worthy causes and help smooth over the period between grief and acceptance.
It’s always helpful to assist VA hospitals in this way, since it’s one of the areas that gets the smallest amount of attention.
Lastly, you can donate your time in another way by organizing a fundraiser or cookout for the local VA hospital in your area.
Organizing a fundraiser may not seem like much, but it’s a great way to start a grassroots movement to help veterans in your city or state.
Get the word out and encourage your friends to sponsor each other in completing a physical challenge or marathon; host a fundraising concert or dinner at your house or church, or have a bake sale to benefit your local VA hospital.
Hosting a cookout, while not as monetarily valuable, can still provide a big morale boost to VA hospital workers and the troops themselves.
If you can get many more people to donate their time or money to your VA hospital, you’ll actually help the hospital much more than if you donated your time alone.
Anything you can do to support our veterans during November will go a long way toward showing them that we truly appreciate what they do.
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin,
Author
2A4Life
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SHOP NOWGun safety is the cornerstone topic that all firearm users should know by heart before pulling the trigger for the first time.
While firearms are great tools for hunting, self-defense, and even just for fun on the range, they’re also powerful weapons that have the potential to cause great injury if they’re not used correctly.
Here are the Top Six Gun Safety Tips that you and everyone in your family should be aware of:
First of all, remember to treat every gun you hold as a loaded weapon.
It doesn’t matter if you counted the cartridges yourself and made extra sure to unload the firearm’s magazine and cartridge in the receiver:
Every gun must be treated as though it’s loaded at all times.
This is the only way to train the appropriate muscle memory to make sure you never point a weapon at someone unless you intend to shoot in self-defense.
This is a habit you should ingrain into everyone you see with a gun, too. If everyone followed this rule with 100% consistency, there would never be any accidental shootings.
Trigger discipline involves keeping your finger away from the trigger until the moment before you take a shot.
Most people put their fingers in the trigger loop by habit, which increases the chance of a misfire.
This can lead to you accidentally injuring yourself or another person when you don’t intend to shoot.
Will this slow you down in a self-defense situation?
Not at all. Try to practice good trigger discipline for better gun safety.
If you’re at a gun range, and if you’re comfortable with firearms, it can be easy to wave your gun around or otherwise hold it too casually for the power it can produce.
We’d recommend keeping your gun pointed downrange or leaving it out of your hand at all times.
The reason? Downrange is the only place where people won’t be, and it’s the only place where you can be sure that, if your gun somehow misfires, you won’t accidentally injure someone.
Again, if everyone followed this tip, there wouldn’t be any accidental shootings at gun ranges.
The “safety” on your firearm should be located and experimented with before you load the gun for the first time.
This is doubly true if you are handed a pistol or rifle that isn’t yours.
Make sure you know how to engage and disengage the safety before squeezing off a single round. The safety is the single best tool to prevent misfires and accidental injuries – use it!
Properly storing your firearm securely is crucial in maintaining the safety of our families. Investing in a gun safe will give you peace of mind that curious little hands won’t accidentally discover it, and also prevent any intruders from getting to your weapon before you do.
Having a small digital safe for your pistol is the best option, as you can keep it in a convenient location where you’d most likely need to grab your firearm.
A biometric digital safe allows fast access, as it simply requires a fingerprint to open it rather than punching in a combination. Plus, the fingerprint scanner allows you to easily open it in the dark without switching on any lights and alerting intruders to your location.
Alternatively, a mounted speed safe is a streamlined option for stowing your weapon in tight-fitting areas such as your nightstand, under your desk or in your vehicle.
Lastly, be sure to maintain any firearms that you own to the best of your ability.
This has a greater effect on gun safety than you might think. Poorly maintained firearms can explode in their owners’ hands, misfire, or cause other injuries.
No one wants their gun to blow up in their face or spray shrapnel everywhere. You can avoid this by maintaining your gun consistently and cleaning it after every use.
Being a responsible gun owner comes with some simple safety measures and a duty to uphold them.
By sticking to these basic guidelines, we can ensure that our firearms are used for their intended purpose only; thus keeping ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones safe.
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin,
Author
2A4Life
The reinvigoration of the American soul has bred a new army of red-blooded armed patriots; those who already exercise their Second Amendment rights saw it coming a mile away and stocked up way ahead of time.
But these two groups of Americans have one thing in common; they’re impossible to shop for.
So what do you get the armed patriot on your list that already has every firearm, holster, and ammunition under the sun?
Pretty much anything on our 2A Gift Guides.
2A4Life is known for our unique firearm holsters, mounts, & attachments that they probably have never heard of, but definitely want.
From spouses to preppers, we got gun gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
Check out our Gift Guides below dedicated to individual personalities; just don’t blame us when they spend more time at the range.
Click to Jump to Gift Guides For:
This holiday season, treat her to some phenomenal firearm concealment, attachments, mounts, & holsters that even the most discerning woman who carries will appreciate:
Read MoreAfter browsing endless outdoor & sports stores, you admit defeat and get him a hardware store gift card, again.
But not this year; we have some unique items that your gun guy will love and actually use.
Read MoreWhether your significant prepper is armed to the teeth or just got their first firearm, we have gift ideas that will have them emerge from their bunker and jump for joy… then scurry back in to make sure it works.
Read MoreThe hunting enthusiast on your holiday shopping list can’t ever have too many accessories to supercharge their steady aim, so grab them some of this gear that’s right in the crosshairs.
Read MoreThis holiday season, give the patriotic families in your circle all the things they need to stir national pride in young hearts, cultivating an unshakeable resolve for defending everything that keeps the USA proud and true.
Read MoreThis holiday season, give the stars and stripes socks a break, and load up that red-blooded patriot on your list with some gifts that are bang on target.
Read MoreEven though it’s been a nail-biter of a year, one thing still holds true in the face of adversity: Championing our second amendment rights and celebrating everything that makes America the land of the free.
This holiday season, give the stars and stripes socks a break, and load up that red-blooded patriot on your list with some gifts that are bang on target.
Rest well knowing your loved one will always be prepared when they’re most vulnerable.
Proven to be the best quality & strongest gun mount on the market with a verified 20 lb. rating, all they have to do is rest their firearm against the magnet to be able to defend themselves at a moment’s notice.
SHOP NOWWhat better gift is there to give to a red-blooded than the honor to fly Old Glory tall & proud?
They will love flying two flags at once, as well as it’s easy maintenance & setup.
And as part of our holiday sale, you can get one at over $170 Off.
Does the patriot on your list already have a flag pole? They’ll love this one.
Uniquely designed to automatically turn on at night and off at dusk, this one-of-a-kind gift allows for flying the flag at night while adhering to US flag code.
(P.S. It makes a great add-on to the Giant Flag Pole Kit!)
SHOP NOWThis unique firearm mounting solution allows your loved one to be armed anywhere, anytime.
All they have to do is install the mount wherever they’d like, and they’ll be able to defend themselves at a moment’s notice.
(Vehicles are a favorite)
SHOP NOWMore than likely, the gun lover on your list has a belt from 1996.
They’ll appreciate a gift that’s durable, Molle compatible, and provides them the capability to store more loaded magazines.
SHOP NOWWhether your significant gun lover is a hunter or ready to hunt in case the world ends, they’ll really appreciate a spotting monocular that doesn’t fog up.
Unlike most others on the market, this top-notch monocular is completely waterproof & fogproof and comes with a free tripod.
SHOP NOWPassing the patriotic torch down to the younger generation is a privilege every American parent knows.
Teaching kids to honor and respect this great country of ours starts at home, and instills a deep sense of national pride they’ll carry close to their hearts their entire lives.
They watch and learn from everything we do.
They pledge their allegiance as they hoist Old Glory, honor those whose sacrifice secured our freedoms, and learn of the sanctuaries that protect our rights.
As adults, our directive is clear; to usher in American values, protect the young and frail among us, and teach youngsters the right ways of the world.
This holiday season, give the patriotic families in your circle all the things they need to stir national pride in young hearts, cultivating an unshakeable resolve for defending everything that keeps the USA proud and true.
The Second Amendment is their birthright, and learning the responsibility that accompanies their liberties helps kids grow up safe, strong and resilient.
Help keep our precious families safe, as a new generation of great American patriots emerges.
What better gift is there to give to a star-spangled family than the honor to fly Old Glory tall & proud?
The kids will love flying two flags at once, and the parents will love it’s easy maintenance & setup.
And as part of our holiday sale, you can get one at over $170 Off.
SHOP NOWDoes the red-blooded family on your list already have a flag pole? They’ll love this one.
Uniquely designed to automatically turn on at night and off at dusk, this one-of-a-kind gift allows for flying the flag at night while adhering to US flag code.
(P.S. It makes a great add-on to the Giant Flag Pole Kit!)
SHOP NOWIf you have young ones in the house, or your gal is a bit scared of guns, a biometric safe is a good option.
It opens to only the fingers that you program into it and has a zero-frustration set-up. There’s even enough space to store some valuables.
SHOP NOWIf there’s one thing a family should always have on hand, it’s emergency food reserves. At the same time, kids are picky, and most emergency food tastes like dirt.
Loaded with a variety of flavor-packed dishes, this is a gift parents will truly appreciate, and hopefully, will never have to use.
SHOP NOWA strategic blend of safety & easy access, the Mounted Speed Safe is a more secure version of a tactical magnet.
Your loved one can attach it anywhere they can drill a couple screws and access their firearm within seconds while keeping it safely out of reach from sticky fingers.
SHOP NOWThe hunt for the perfect gift begins.
When you’ve only got one shot to bag the big one with a gift that’s right on the mark, you can confidently pull the trigger on these hunter-approved attachments.
The hunting enthusiast on your holiday shopping list can’t ever have too many accessories to supercharge their steady aim, so grab them some of this gear that’s right in the crosshairs.
Here, we’ve rounded up 6 gifts to make the steely-eyed hunter you’re shopping for feel like a million bucks. (See what we did there?)
Trust me; your significant hunter will appreciate a spotting monocular that doesn’t fog up.
Unlike most others on the market, this top-notch monocular is completely waterproof, fog-proof, and comes with a free tripod.
SHOP NOWWhen it comes to hunting big game, your significant hunter could use all the help he can get.
Give him a gift that will reduce his aim to an instant.
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for more deer head mounts.
SHOP NOWThe only thing more powerful & dangerous than a firearm is the element of surprise.
Specially designed to be comfortable, discrete, and compatible for both left and right hand draw, your loved one will appreciate a quality holster that they’ll barely even know is there.
SHOP NOWA great addition to any torso holster, the ankle holster allows for carrying multiple firearms at once and is uniquely designed for rapid access as well as optimal comfort.
Oh and don’t worry about guessing shoe size; one size fits all.
SHOP NOWTalk to any hunter; they have plenty of stories of, “I just missed it by a hair.”
Give them a gift that will Improve their aim in an instant and increase their chances of taking home that 8-pointer they dream of.
SHOP NOWMore than likely, the hunter on your list has a belt from 1996.
They’ll appreciate a gift that’s durable, Molle compatible, and provides them the capability to store more loaded magazines.
SHOP NOWIf your significant other is into arming herself to the hilt and defending her 2nd Amendment rights: First up, congrats on choosing the perfect mate.
And secondly, you’re in luck when it comes to choosing the perfect holiday gift for her.
The savvy, armed woman in your life will love unwrapping some well-designed concealed carry solutions and firearm accessories that make her draw the quickest one around.
This holiday season, treat her to some phenomenal firearm concealment solutions that even the most discerning woman who carries will appreciate:
Your woman always needs to look beautiful, and sometimes holsters cramp her style; and trust me, all women love leggings.
They’re comfortable, complementing, and will probably encourage her to carry more frequently. If she asks; yes, it has pockets.
SHOP NOWMade of quality cowhide leather & loaded with compartments & pockets, this purse is specifically designed to have a pouch specifically dedicated to her firearm.
So if she ever has to reach for her gun, she won’t have to fumble through endless receipts, lipstick, and eyeliner.
SHOP NOWIs your special gal more of the utility type? We gotcha covered.
Our exclusive Concealment Clutch is stylish, works for left or right hand draw, and has other compartments for necessities.
SHOP NOWIf you have young ones in the house, or your gal is a bit scared of guns, a biometric safe is a good option.
It opens to only the fingers that you program into it and has a zero-frustration set-up. There’s even enough space to store some valuables, too.
SHOP NOWRest well knowing your loved one will always be prepared when they’re most vulnerable.
Proven to be the best quality & strongest gun mount on the market with a verified 20 lb. rating, all they have to do is rest their firearm against the magnet to be able to defend themselves at a moment’s notice.
SHOP NOWBy far the most comfortable way to carry, this unique holster allows for quick access, discrete carry, and rapid access.
In case s#!t really hits the fan, there’s even pouches for spare magazines.
SHOP NOWToday is Veterans Day: a historically serious and important day for our country and the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces.
But although we all recognize Veterans Day, many of us struggle to come up with ways in which we can really make a difference in the lives of our local veterans the same way they’ve undoubtedly made a difference in ours.
Let’s break down five great ideas you can employ this Veterans Day.
Many veterans appreciate thank you’s. But thank you letters are opportunities to express how much a veteran’s service means to you, in more eloquent words than many of us can manage in person.
Plus, you'll avoid any potential social awkwardness that might crop up if you thank them verbally – some veterans don’t like being singled out in public.
Consider doing this if you know any veterans in real life, and especially if they’re a family member.
Sometimes, we see veterans standing in line for coffee or a meal. Why not pick up their tab as a way to show your gratitude for their service?
You can do this anonymously or not, depending on your comfort level... But we’re sure any veteran will appreciate it if you pay for their coffee.
Don’t be afraid to expand your options, either. Things like gas and groceries can also go a long way.
There are plenty of veterans who are disabled or are otherwise unable to easily make it to their own doctor’s appointments.
This can lead to spiraling health problems, as many of the veterans who can’t make it to the doctor are those who need a physician’s assistance more than anyone else.
You can directly help a veteran in your local area by offering to drive them to their doctor’s appointments.
This is the best way to ensure that they get the care they need and it’s a way to help directly without having to spend money you might not have, or commit a ton of time: Yet it has the potential to make a huge difference in their life.
A veteran assistance program, like the kind offered by the Disabled American Veterans nonprofit, is another great way you can make a difference in the lives of veterans this Veterans Day, or any day afterward.
Chapters are organized by geography, so you can find a local chapter and help veterans who live in your community.
The work is usually simple – things like yard work, grocery shopping, or running certain errands.
While they may seem like small gestures to you and I, these kind acts of service can make much more of a difference in the life of a veteran who needs someone looking out for them than you might think.
The Building Homes for Heroes project is a nonprofit that runs on donations and volunteer assistance to build homes for veterans without them.
This incredibly important nonprofit organization arguably makes the most difference in the lives of veterans that aren’t very well off.
Consider joining the organization to either donate or lend your time and labor if you have the appropriate skills.
We appreciate the sacrifices our honorable veterans have made for us, our country, and our freedoms.
Please join us in leading by example, to help out our veterans who gave the security and safety of this country their full dedication.
This Veterans Day, let’s all help out where we can. Encourage those around you to follow suit, showing our deep gratitude for our fearless countrymen who served for us, and honoring their bravery.
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin, Author
2A4Life
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Having a pistol to protect your home or business is just common sense.
While it’s one thing to own your weapon – it’s another thing to actually be able to draw the pistol in self-defense when the time comes.
Let’s break down why you should consider tactically mounting your weapon instead of relying on a standard holster:
First off, tactical mounts, like the Quick Draw featured above, let you keep your pistol hidden from any would-be attacked or burglar.
This is crucial not only for your own safety, but so you can defend yourself and your peers effectively.
Someone with a gun is much more likely to pull the trigger before you can react if they see that you’re armed as well.
But a bank manager with a tactical mount beneath their desk won’t be seen as a threat… at least, until it’s too late!
It’s hard to understate just how important the element of surprise is for self-defense.
A tactical mount is a necessity if you want to keep your sidearm hidden until it’s the right time to strike.
There are lots of quality holsters to choose from, sure.
But holsters are often clunky to wear with workplace attire, or they might be uncomfortable to wear all day if you are on your feet.
This goes double for any concealed carry holsters.
On the flip side, you can easily place a tactical mount or Tac-Magnet near where you stand or sit.
You can position them out so that your firearm is always within easy reach.
This is crucial if you need to draw the weapon in a hurry to defend yourself and your business.
Imagine a scenario where a gas station owner is being robbed. Drawing from a waist-level holster will be obvious and dangerous.
However, drawing from a concealed tactical magnet or mount beneath the counter is a lot safer and easier.
What’s more is that tactical mounts are often much more secure than even the best hip holster.
This is doubly true when it comes to a concealed carry holster, such as one inside the waistband.
The fact of the matter is that, in a tense situation, it can be difficult to draw your firearm if your holster isn’t perfectly secure and where you expect it to be.
Imagine reaching for your sidearm, only for the holster to be just an inch behind where you thought it was due to belt shifting from your day.
A tactical holster mounted under your desk or by your chair, on the other hand, is always in the exact same place.
That reliability could be the difference between life and death.
We got your six.
There are two we think every firearm-owning American should consider.
The first is the Tac Magnet.
Easy to install on any flat surface, and bolstered with a rubber top finishing to prevent scratching on your firearm, it’s a perfect magnet tactical mount for shop owners or for stashing your firearm beneath your desk.
It can hold a firearm that weighs up to 25 pounds!
Next is the Quick Draw Tac Magnet.
Similar to the last tactical mount, this piece is specially designed to let you draw your pistol quickly from a hiding spot.
Place this under your desk, in your car, or in your home for excellent effect.
It even chambers a round as you pull it out.
Choose either of these two tactical mounts and you’ll be safer and more effective with your sidearm than ever before.
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin, Author
2A4Life
On October 27, 2020, we’ll once again observe and celebrate Navy Day.
Although it’s just a couple of weeks after the official Navy birthday, Navy Day is a unique holiday where we honor and reflect on the accomplishments of the sea branch of the US military.
In honor of this annual occasion, let’s take a look at the top five Navy vets you should be following on Twitter for daily inspiration and hard-won wisdom:
This former Navy EOD is one of the nicest people on Twitter (normally not a very pleasant place to be around!).
These days, he’s one of the most knowledgeable ordnance and explosive experts on the Internet.
He works with the Times’ publication to provide excellent articles and in-depth information about international events and America’s military development.
His stories are both inspirational and riveting.
A former Navy vet who is now a reporter for patriotic publications, Larter is one of the most positive presences on Twitter.
He’s widely liked both for intelligent political discourse and for interesting stories about modern military maneuvers.
He also hosts plenty of inspirational pictures that demonstrate the true awe and beauty of our military. Check out his account if you want to be regularly inspired!
With a name appropriate for a Navy vet, Shipley is actually a former Navy SEAL, with 24 years under his belt as a Senior Chief of the special forces.
With tons of badass credentials to show for his time in the military, he now spends much of his time promoting inspirational and hilarious videos on his YouTube channel.
Check it out if you want a daily reality check with some humor mixed in!
Let’s take a look at one of the best lady influencers active today – she’s an experienced Navy vet in her own right!
These days, Marshall works as an actress with many major TV shows under her belt, including NCIS, Stranger Things, and more.
But her Instagram and other social media accounts are good for daily comedy and inspiration plus information on Pin-Ups for Vets: a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping America’s retired military personnel.
She’s also a great choice if you want some behind-the-scenes stuff from many of the shows she’s been in!
A former Navy sailor who served as a rescue swimmer and a gunner’s mate, Carrizosa has a lot of experience in the Navy and plenty of wisdom to share.
Beyond that, she’s been on several TV shows and uses her social media to promote the Team 5 Foundation: a nonprofit that provides medical care to various countries around the world.
Check out her Instagram for pictures of her sick tattoos, veteran inspiration, and lots of entertaining content.
Of course, there are many more excellent Navy social media accounts to follow, and each of them likely has unique wisdom and inspiration to draw from during tough times, and as we approach the election season.
Let us know if there are any Navy vets you follow that we should add to our list!
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin,
Author
2A4Life
The words “rights” and “liberties” both appear multiple times throughout the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
But those words are very similar in the dictionary.
To make things even more confusing, both terms are used relatively interchangeably in today’s modern and divisive political discourse.
But, there are some key differences between rights and liberties that you should be aware of so you’re never caught off guard during a debate or political discussion.
Let’s investigate these differences and unblur the lines:
Civil rights can be thought of as “positive” actions that the government is allowed to provide.
A “right” in the legal sense is something that is bestowed to every citizen either naturally (this is where the phrase natural rights comes into play) or by their government.
For instance, the US federal government guarantees all citizens the right to vote and the right to be protected against discrimination.
This is why the civil rights movement was dubbed that precise term, rather than the civil liberties movement.
Civil rights are important because they protect minority groups against the majority rule, which can occasionally become tyrannical.
A more famous example might be the “Miranda” rights that one is read when one is arrested by the state or federal government: “You have the right to remain silent, to have an attorney, to have a trial judged by your peers”, etc.
Civil liberties, on the other hand, are “negative” to the government in that they are protections that all citizens have no matter what.
For example, the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights contains several liberties that protect citizens in multiple ways.
For instance, citizens can:
In this way, civil liberties are things that you have regardless of what the federal government says.
The federal government cannot punish people for speaking freely because of their liberty, and freedom of speech is not a right that the government can take away under certain circumstances.
In a nutshell, it’s easiest to determine whether you’re talking about a civil right or liberty by focusing on whether you’re gaining a privilege or being protected against something being taken away.
For example, an employee doesn’t have a legal right to a promotion. But, they do have a legal right to be free from discrimination – this means that a company can’t discriminate based on gender, race, or anything else.
In contrast, the right to marry is a civil liberty. That’s because everyone can decide whether they want to marry another person, and it’s not something the government hands down or decides for others.
This is the crux of the gay marriage debate, in that one half of the debate considers it to be a right while the other considers it to be a liberty that’s already defined.
Ultimately, however, both civil rights and liberties are things that we Americans enjoy.
Indeed, American rights and liberties have shaped the Western world for centuries.
Don’t think of one as more important than the other – both shape and define your freedoms in different but valuable ways!
Thank you for reading… United We Stand
Justin, Author
2A4Life
As women, protecting ourselves and our families with a firearm is perhaps the most independent and important decision we'll ever make.
Because even though pound-for-pound, men are generally packing more muscle...
The gun is the great equalizer.
As most states only allow a firearm to be carried in a concealed carry holster of one kind or another, it's no surprise the women's concealed carry options have undergone some serious innovation. They've had a revamp to make personal protection more accessible, functional, and even fashionable.
So, this means that you (or the savvy woman in your life) will need some well-designed concealed carry solutions to make sure to always be properly armed, whether it's out on a date night, or just out and about.
Fortunately, we have three phenomenal firearm concealment solutions that even the most discerning woman who carries will appreciate:
The first of these concealment innovations is a tactical concealed clutch.
This sleek, streamlined Concealment Clutch lets you take your firearm with you on any occasion- even when your outfit calls for an elegant evening clutch!
This double-duty clutch is trim, yet still fits all the essentials: So your subcompact, compact, and even full-sized revolver or pistol will fit snugly in its secured holster next to your lippie, smartphone and keys.
The detachable, adjustable strap allows you to carry it clutch-style, cross-body or on your shoulder.
Despite its sleek silhouette, you'll be able to fit most typical self-defense firearms within this premium quality leather clutch.
It includes Velcro siding so you can securely hold your pistol in place, and it’s appropriate for either right or left-handed draws.
To round out its design as a perfect 10; the top zipper is lockable, so moms won't need to worry about curious little hands accidentally getting onto a firearm.
They say you can tell a lot about a woman by the contents of her purse...
What if she has a self-defense sidearm?
This clever Concealment Purse lets every woman keep a concealed pistol at her side at all times, no matter how many other items her purse is packing.
It’s made of high-quality cowhide leather and comes in three colors: Black, Gray, and Brown, to complement whatever your outfit or style.
The included positioning holster will allow you to customize where the pistol grip rests, for an easy draw when or if the time comes.
It's loaded with pockets and compartments, so it stands up as the perfect everyday purse that's every bit as versatile as your busy life is.
The wire-reinforced adjustable strap lengths ensure maximum durability and strength, so you'll never feel weighed down and you can adjust the straps to your favorite way to carry your purse, whether that's crossbody or over the shoulder.
As with the clutch mentioned above, this also features a zipper-locked secret compartment to prevent kids from reaching into your purse and getting a hold of your pistol.
Lastly, these concealment leggings are both attractive and comfortable.
Not to mention, no-one will be any the wiser that you're carrying in these sleek leggings.
These high-performance Concealment Leggings feature twin holsters at the front and back so you can customize your concealed carry solution, plus a retention strap that ensures the pistol you choose will stay in place without being jostled around as you walk.
Feeling safe with your significant other by your side and want to leave your sidearm at home? No need to take a day off from your new favorite leggings: The pockets double as the perfectly-size pouch for your cell phone instead.
The stretchy spandex-nylon blend fabric offers plenty of unrestricted motion, plus these buttery-soft leggings are comfortable enough that you can wear your firearm without needing an underlayer.
Don't compromise your style or comfort simply for the sake of security: These high-achieving leggings give you the best of both worlds, so you can look sleek and stylish whilst staying safe and ready.
Ultimately, all women will revolutionize their comfort, style and functionality with one or all of these intuitive firearm concealment solutions.
Not only are they fashionable enough that they wouldn’t be out of place in any social engagement, but they’re also designed with every last detail in mind, to be long-lasting and durable enough that you can rely on them for years to come.
So, take your mark and level up your outfits - Or kit out that special, smart woman in your life - with one of these clever concealed carry outfit solutions.
Thank you for reading, United We Stand
Jane | 2A4Life
The US Navy is one of the oldest branches of the US military, as it was technically founded in back in 1775 on October 13, during the war in which the Continental Navy fought for the freedom of early America.
In honor of this historic day, we’ve decided to take a closer look at another founding story: that of the Navy’s most proficient and secretive special operations group, the SEALs.
Although not formally founded until later, the Navy SEALs as a concept began before World War II with the special operations swimmers of the OSS, or the Office of Strategic Services.
This paramilitary organization can best be thought of as the progenitor of the CIA, and their swimmer division was comprised of some of the best special forces operatives in the U.S. Navy at the time.
1942 saw the first training of Amphibious Scouts and Raiders. This group would eventually carry out special operations during World War II, especially if those operations pertain to identifying and performing reconnaissance on objective beaches.
During WWII, the amphibious special operations soldiers evolved even further.
Specifically, coral reefs were identified as a major obstacle for the Amphibious Corps and other naval operations. Because of this, the amphibious special forces groups recruited Navy Construction personnel to demolish coral and other obstructions to their objectives.
These additions led to the formation of Underwater Demolition Teams or UDTs. Such joint operations between the UDTs and Amphibious Corps eventually led to several successes during World War II.
This success was so notable that the Amphibious Corps continued operations during the Korean War, eventually moving on to land as part of the Special Operations Group or SOG.
The Amphibious Corps and UDTs went on to demolish railroad tunnels and bridges along the Korean coast to assist Marines and Army personnel for easier landing during the invasion of the country.
After the Korean War, President John F. Kennedy recognized that there was a need for special operations and unconventional warfare, especially with guerrilla warfare becoming more common.
Though the Navy was already in the process of formalizing its special operatives into a unique group, Kennedy accelerated and finalized the process.
March 1961 saw the beginning of an establishment of special operations units that could operate from the sea, air, or land. From this point, any new Navy SEALs came from the UDTs mentioned before. The first two teams were finally created in January 1962.
As you can see, the road to the formal founding of the Navy SEALs was long and winding. But decades of military training and tactics eventually resulted in arguably the best special operations forces ever created.
To date, the SEALs have single-handedly changed the tide of history multiple times, and have helped secure military victories that would not have been possible otherwise.
The SEALs were also the operatives responsible for the capture and killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
We hope to see future news of the SEALs' exploits, and we’re confident that they’ll continue to protect America and her people with every ounce of their exceptional strength and skill.
United We Stand,
Justin, Author
2A4Life
A national emergency isn’t something anyone wants to contemplate, but it is something every responsible head of the household or parent should consider before it occurs.
With the growing civil unrest in the country, it only makes sense to be prepared for anything.
Now I'm not saying to go full-on prepper, although there is nothing wrong with that, but it would be wise to at least have these 5 items on hand.
First aid supplies are, appropriately, first on the agenda.
When putting together a kit that’ll serve you well in the event of a national emergency, make sure that it includes plenty of first-aid supplies.
Specifically, look for things like:
Having enough first-aid supplies to go around will help you take care of your family if hospitals or emergency services aren’t available, or if you can’t reach medical attention in the foreseeable future.
Water is next, even before food.
After all, we can’t survive very long without it! Make sure that you have at least a few clean gallon-sized bottles to store water in, especially if you need to survive on your own for a few days.
You'll also want to look into water purification tools. Some water bottles can purify the water you collect by themselves, or you can look into larger purifiers, purifying tablets, and more.
You'll also want to look into water purification tools. Some water bottles can purify the water you collect by themselves, or you can look into larger purifiers, purifying tablets, and more.
The bottom line: make sure that you can purify your water repeatedly for at least a few days.
It can get cold outside, and even inside your home if the power goes out during a national emergency.
Because of this, make sure that you have at least a few emergency blankets or other insulating materials on hand.
You can use these to stay warm and relatively protected from some of the elements, whether you have to spend time outside or stay somewhere during the winter that isn’t heated properly.
It goes without saying food storage is a crucial necessity.
You’ll need containers or bins in which you can carry stored food relatively easily as you might need to move from place to place to either be rescued, or to find a safer spot to wait out the rest of whatever disaster has occurred.
It’s a good idea to procure some emergency meal kits ahead of time.
The 2A4Life Month Food Storage Kit is the perfect choice for a national emergency that lasts for a few days. The meals contained within vary in variety, are delicious, and stay fresh for up to 25 years.
Every time you eat one of these meals you can rest-assured you are eating healthy, delicious food and saving a lot of money.
This is best combined with a storage shed or underground safe house. It’ll keep you and your family fed for quite a while in case an emergency drags on for longer than you expect.
Lastly, be sure to have at least one firearm on you in case of a national emergency.
You should be properly trained with that firearm so you can effectively use it for either hunting or self-defense.
For this dual-purpose, we'd recommend a rifle or carbine of some kind, rather than a handgun.
If you're already armed, it's wise to optimize your firearms with various 2A4Life Attachments & Concealment solutions.
We recommend the following items for emergency preparedness:
Ultimately, collecting all these things will go a long way toward ensuring you’re well-prepared for any national emergency.
There’s no such thing as being too prepared, and if push ever comes to shove, you’ll be glad you were so proactive early on.
Thank you for reading, United We Stand.
Justin | 2A4Life
Most people think that the voting process starts and ends when they cast their ballots, either for the president or their lower representatives and senators.
But in truth, there are many more ways you can make your voice heard when voting on a piece of legislation. It’s often very important that you do so, too; both to alter the national conversation and make sure your representative votes according to your actual interests.
First and foremost, be sure to contact your Congress member or members before voting is actually due to take place.
As a United States citizen, you have multiple members of Congress you can petition or give your opinion to – no matter what state you live in, you have two senators and likely several representatives voting on your behalf.
The good news is that contacting these Congress members is designed to be easy and accessible. All Congress members have mailing addresses and emails on their home websites, or by looking through congress.gov: the official website of Congress. You can also try to call your Congressman or woman directly.
When speaking or writing to your representatives, be sure to speak clearly and politely. Explain your position and how you hope your representative will vote.
You can also go to marches or rallies, which seem to be being held more commonly these days. It’s easier than ever for people to organize and protest, either in support of or against government legislation or current legislative trends.
If you don’t like a piece of legislation about to go through the government, start a rally or peaceful protest. Or, in the reverse case, consider supporting your representatives as they pass legislation you agree with by holding a positive rally.
Either way, showing up in person to demonstrate your beliefs is often more powerful than writing a letter.
The Internet is the greatest communication tool ever created by mankind. Use it.
We have a tendency to think that the era of political essays is over. But the truth is, the original writers of the Federalist Papers would have jumped at the chance to use the modern Internet to spread their message.
Like them, you can use your academic and language skills (if you have them) to write compelling essays that can spread to other political thinkers and adults.
Essays are often the best way to write long-form or complex political ideas and change the national conversation. Don’t believe you have that power? You do.
In fact, everyone does since almost everyone has access to the Internet. A well-written essay can easily go viral in an hour and spread far beyond what the Founding Fathers ever could’ve imagined.
Regardless of how you make your voice heard when voting on a new piece of legislation, be sure to support your arguments (or protest signs) with real facts and figures.
Get your data from government sources and official studies. This is the best way to sway people in the middle and convince your Congressional representatives of the rightness of your position.
Thank you for reading, United We Stand.
Justin, Author
2A4Life
Every American citizen should know the details of the binding government document that outlines their rights and privileges, especially with communist insurrectionists running rampant in the streets.
Today, we’ll break down the amendments that immediately followed the first nine and comprised the majority of the historic Bill of Rights. This is a brief overview of Constitutional amendments 10-15.
The 10th amendment is the last amendment of the official Bill of Rights, and it’s arguably one of the most important.
In a nutshell, it specifies that any powers not explicitly outlined in the Constitution are automatically delegated to the states or to the people instead of the federal government.
This prevents the federal government from accruing more power passively as new laws or rights are discovered or discussed.
The 11th amendment was adopted in 1795 and was the first amendment added after the Bill of Rights. The original language is a bit technical, but it essentially established the doctrine of “sovereign immunity”.
This prevents any government entities or officers, so long as they are acting officially and lawfully, from being sued for carrying out their duties.
For instance, this means police officers can’t be sued for fighting someone if they were fighting that criminal within the legal bounds of their job.
The 12th amendment is especially long compared to many others in the Constitution.
The Air Force today still operates in both air and space, though the new department – the Space Force, itself a subsidiary organization of the Air Force like the USAF was for the Army back in World War II – will progressively take on those challenges and responsibilities over time.
It was adopted in 1804 and changed the exact procedures for how the electoral college can elect both the president and vice president. More specifically, it decrees that each electoral college elector has to cast a distinct vote for the president and vice president.
Previously, electors cast two votes for the president alone, and the runner-up became vice president.
It had ancillary effects for the rest of the voting process, as well.
For instance, it made it so that the House of Representatives votes for the president if the electoral college vote does not produce a clear majority. This is one of the most complex amendments in the Constitution, so be sure to study it in more detail.
The 13th amendment is one of the most famous – it outlawed both slavery and indentured servitude in the United States with a single exception.
Only criminals who have been duly prosecuted and convicted of a crime may be subjected to imprisonment and/or servitude to a limited extent. This Amendment was passed in 1865, after the Civil War, and resulted in the freedom of all Southern slaves.
The 13th amendment was the first of three “Reconstruction” amendments that were passed shortly after the Civil War.
The 14th amendment was passed in 1868 and it established citizenship for any person born or naturalized in the United States. It also prevented state governments from infringing upon the privileges or immunities of United States citizens.
As you might expect, this was largely adopted to prevent Southern states from attempting to limit the freedoms of newly freed African-Americans by explicitly naming them as citizens.
The 15th amendment was adopted in 1870 and guaranteed the voting rights of any former slaves or other African-American citizens.
As you might expect, this was largely adopted to prevent Southern states from attempting to limit the freedoms of newly freed African-Americans by explicitly naming them as citizens.
It was adopted mostly to ensure that Southern states could not continue to infringe upon the voting rights of African-Americans. These practices still continued, unfortunately, until the 24th amendment was passed nearly 100 years later.
Thank you for taking the time to educate or jog your memory about your God-given rights as an American citizen. Stay tuned every month where we break down various parts of the Constitution by subscribing to our newsletter.
You can also read past articles simplifying other parts of the Constitution below:
United We Stand.
Justin, Author
2A4Life
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In the 73 years since the United States Air Force was first founded, the branch has been responsible for many of the most important military and technological achievements of the US overall.
On this anniversary, we thought it prudent to look back on this historic organization and see how it originally began.
The Air Force did not begin as an independent branch of the US military. Instead, it started off as a subsidiary branch of the US Army – during World War II, it was called the U.S. Army Air Forces or USAAF.
This means that the fledgling Air Force received its orders, personnel, and training equipment from the U.S. Army's plan and budget, leadership, and stockpiles.
However, the nature of World War II, and the prevalence of aerial combat that its theaters demanded, meant that the USAAF was essentially independent of the Army in terms of operations and responsibilities. Because of this, USAAF leadership petitioned the federal government for independence. In 1947, they would get it.
President Harry S Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, during which the Department of the Air Force was established. This was important since there were only two other departments at that time: the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy (which oversaw both the Navy itself and US Marines).
After the Air Force was established, it was quickly given various responsibilities and its own budget. Officers transferred from the Army or Navy to enter the Air Force officially.
The Air Force's purpose was explicitly established with four core principles:
Ever since its first officers were sworn in, the USAF has maintained these principles and acted accordingly.
The USAF’s formation was an important move during the late 1940s, as aeronautics research and weapons progress became increasingly critical as the Cold War took shape. But the Air Force would receive additional responsibilities and goals as time went on.
Specifically, the Air Force was quickly tasked with maintaining the United States' aerial superiority over the Soviet Union. As often as with traditional aircraft, this extended to aerospace research.
Indeed, the Space Race was largely won thanks to the efforts of the USAF and NASA – two government organizations that have historically maintained close ties.
The Air Force today still operates in both air and space, though the new department – the Space Force, itself a subsidiary organization of the Air Force like the USAF was for the Army back in World War II – will progressively take on those challenges and responsibilities over time.
With the founding of the Space Force, the Air Force retains its original mission and importance for national security and defense development.
Though another year has passed, we hope the Air Force will continue its long tradition of pushing the boundaries of human exploration and technology and keep doing a stellar job of protecting the United States and its citizens.
Thank you for reading, United We Stand.
Justin, Author
2A4Life
Here, we take you on a journey into the pages of history to discover how it was conceptualized, so we can get a better idea of why it was created in the first place...
]]>It has played a huge role in American cultural development, and is a topic of much debate these days.
Here, we take you on a journey into the pages of history to discover how it was conceptualized, so we can get a better idea of why it was created in the first place...
Understanding why the Second Amendment was drawn up in the first place is crucial for understanding the whole process.
During the time of the Revolutionary War, the Founding Fathers saw the need for regular citizens to be able to arm themselves and defend themselves against a potentially tyrannical government.
After all, that was essentially what they were doing with the British at the time!
The Revolutionary era was also a time when almost every independent citizen who had land to protect also owned a gun. Interestingly, these citizens were also the only people who would end up voting, until later amendments were passed.
These landowners used their firearms to protect themselves from criminals or wild animals – there weren’t emergency services around to help, like we’re used to today.
While gun ownership was not well regulated, it was recognized that in order for citizens to keep safe and have a good chance at self defense, the right to bear arms was a necessity.
The Founding Fathers thought it was important that they enshrine the right of the people to arm themselves in case the future United States government ever became tyrannical in the same way they saw the British government acting.
This would, they thought, help prevent the United States from ever becoming as bloated or imperialistic as the British government.
The Founding Fathers, when they were writing the Constitution and its various amendments, looked at old documents for certain turns of phrase for outlines to assist them in drafting their own documents.
For instance, the Second Amendment was based on the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which included a provision allowing citizens to keep and bear arms according to English common law.
More specifically, James Madison imagined that a state militia could oppose the federal military if necessary. While he wrote several of the Federalist Papers, he outlined what he thought the Second Amendment ought to be and protect.
This ensured that, as the Second Amendment was being drafted, the right to keep and bear arms was not considered auxiliary or ancillary to citizens’ right to serve in the military in defense of the government.
The Second Amendment was not passed alone. Instead, it was passed alongside nine other amendments in the Bill of Rights, the collection of which guaranteed the sovereign right of citizens under the Constitution and protected individuals.
The Constitution without the Bill of Rights was and is more concerned with the functioning of the government and its federal rights, so the Bill of Rights itself was necessary to secure the individual freedoms we all enjoy today.
These days, there’s a lot more debate about the 2nd Amendment and what the Founding Fathers meant, but it was clear as day to anyone back in those days what the Amendment was meant to do.
The Second Amendment’s development shows us why it was created and why it’s still so important today.
With luck, all the American people will remember their roots and stop attempts to overturn the Second Amendment or alter it from its original purpose.
Thank you for reading,
Justin
Author
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There are also some other key items that could quickly turn into your essentials if ever push comes to shove during these times of unrest.
Here are the five rare items you may not have considered, but that you'll nonetheless want to have in your arsenal, so you can always be ready for anything...
The first crucial item is a belly band holster, like our nifty design that's packed with handy features to make your life easier and more comfortable. This holster lets you comfortably carry any concealed weapon you’re qualified to use, and is an ambidextrous design, so it works whether you’re a righty or lefty.
It’s stretchy and super comfortable for both men and women. This is partially because it comes in three sizes that fit everyone, and also due to the well-thought out design details like its surgical grade elastic, to ensure maximum flexibility without causing skin irritation.
Even better, the holster comes with a retention strap to allow a quicker draw. Use it for concealed carry 9 mm, 38 special, 45 ACP, and other handguns depending on your preferences.
Need a purse to handle your concealed weapon? Look no further than our cowhide leather concealment purse. Not only is there plenty of room for your handgun, but there are also other pockets for your phone and other common accessories.
This purse is made to last thanks to the high-quality leather it's been exquisitely crafted from. The intuitive design process called for highly functional features and additional safety to be incorporated, so there’s a zipper on the top to prevent kids from reaching in to find your defensive weapon.
The handgun holster itself is positioned for a fast draw, so you can get the drop swiftly whether you’re right- or left- handed. Lastly, it’s easily adjustable and is perfect for either crossbody or shoulder carry.
In a survival situation, hunger can easily get the better of you and cause you to make less than logical decisions. If you’re ever stuck in a short-term survival scenario, our 72-hour food supply will go a long way toward helping you and your family stay calm and collected.
This kit comes with plenty of delicious meals that can easily be prepared without common appliances or accessories. All you need is water! To make sure the food lasts for a long time, everything is sealed in special pouches that have 25-year shelf lives.
We keep a bunch of these stocked up in our emergency bunkers, and have a few handy around the house in case we’re ever stranded at home for a few days.
Our water filtration system is a must-have item if you want to ensure you have clean drinking water in a survival situation. It can remove up to 99.9999% of most impurities, including harmful forms of bacteria and minerals like lead.
It doesn’t need any electricity, so it’s perfect for use while off the grid.
Grab this and use it to stock your survival bunker, or just keep it around in case water stops flowing from your faucets.
Lastly, consider attaching our tactical magnet to practically any surface around your home, car, or place of work. It’s perfect for keeping your handgun within reach under your car’s dashboard or under your desk, so you can have your fast defenses kicked up into high gear and at the ready, wherever you find yourself.
Its powerful magnets ensure it can hold up to 25 pounds without coming off, plus it even comes with a protective guard surface to prevent scratches and keep your firearm looking in pristine condition, no matter how many times or how rapidly you draw it from its cradle.
Because we never know when a flip in the script could suddenly be upon us... (and these days, it honestly could be any moment now!) We're sure you'll agree that staying ahead of the game and channeling our inner prepper is a smart move right now.
The thing about getting our homes prepared with ample sustenance and protection to get us and our families through any trouble, in its essence, means that we won't know when we'll need it...
But trust us, if a time comes when you do actually need these things, you'll be so glad you took the time to ensure your kit was well stocked and your arsenal packed to the gunnels before all hell broke loose.
Thank you for reading,
Justin
Author
]]>While we all know what our favorite amendment is, let's not forget all those hard-hitting topics the latter half of the Bill addresses.
If it's high time you had a refresher, you've come to the right place. Here, we break down each of those important amendments, one by one...
See how many of these you remember, starting from the middle of our Bill of Rights:
The Fifth Amendment is one of the most important because it provides several protections for citizens, and particularly those who are accused of crimes.
The Fifth Amendment guarantees that serious criminal charges have to be started by a grand jury, and that people can’t be tried twice for the same crime.
Additionally, the Fifth Amendment means that you can’t have your property taken away unjustly and you can’t incriminate yourself, nor can you be imprisoned without a fair trial.
There’s a lot of meat in this amendment!
The Sixth Amendment continues this trend and provides even more protection to those accused of crimes.
The right to a speedy and public trial, and a trial by an impartial jury are both included here, and it also guarantees that you have to be informed of your criminal charges.
Between the two of them, the Fifth and Sixth Amendments are crucial for ensuring the proper due process of the law, plus making sure that neither the government, nor anyone else, can imprison you improperly or unfairly.
The Seventh Amendment is a small one but it’s still important, particularly in this day and age when the federal government is increasingly in danger of overreaching.
It gives all citizens the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases. This basically means that a federal judge will never be the sole person in charge of your fate for any federal crime, such as if you were charged with sedition (resisting authority) or something similar.
The Eighth Amendment is pretty straightforward and to the point: it protects you against cruel and unusual punishment, which is why Guantánamo Bay was such a big deal when that was in the news cycle.
What constitutes cruel and unusual punishment is, of course, up for debate, and there have historically been relaxations around this rule during times of war.
In addition to the above point, the eighth amendment prevents your imprisoner (i.e. the government) from setting an excessive bail or high fines so that you can’t get out before you are proven guilty.
The Ninth Amendment is a catchall amendment that says, quite literally, any right not being listed in the Constitution does not necessarily mean that people don’t enjoy those rights.
It was included to protect citizens from having any common sense rights being exploited just because the Founding Fathers forgot to include them in the document.
Lastly, the Tenth Amendment ostensibly limits the power of the federal government to only the powers delegated by it in the Constitution.
In other words, if the power isn’t exclusively assigned to the federal government, then it belongs to the people or the states.
Understanding all of these amendments is important, particularly if you’re ever arrested. Know them by heart and the government, be it state or federal, will have a much harder time giving you a hard time in the coming years.
Thank you for reading,
Justin
Author
]]>Let’s go over the signs of an overreaching government, so you can be ready if things escalate...
]]>Despite this, these days, the federal government is a bloated whale of bureaucratic nightmares. Even worse, there's plenty of evidence that its powers have expanded to let it overreach in too many places.
Let’s go over the telltale signs of an overreaching government, so you can be ready if things escalate...
Perhaps the most obvious sign of an overreaching government is the surveillance of its citizens.
This has been in effect for decades, but it got worse after 9/11, when President George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act. This allowed for surveillance of American citizens through phones and Internet communication.
While Bush started the Act, President Barack Obama continued the trend and expanded the powers of the Act during his administration. Over time, whistle-blowers like Snowden have tried to show the American people just how much of their data is being collected and reviewed in the name of “security”.
Some people may ask, “Why worry if you have nothing to hide?”
But, that really isn’t the point.
In our opinion, this injustice is the most egregious and the longest-lasting of them all so far.
You can also see signs of an overreaching government through media control. Consider the contrasting statements that the federal government and health organizations have had regarding COVID-19.
In the beginning, masks were useless – now they're vital. While it's true that masks can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the message has felt wishy-washy and unclear because there's only been one organization at the head of the media: the federal government.
The fact that the federal government largely controls what and when information is broadcast to the American public is a terrible sign of overreaching.
It’s true that the government does need to keep some things in secret due to national security, or in times of war. But matters of public health should not be dictated whimsically by insecure government officials.
Think that an overreaching government is exclusive to either conservatives or liberals? Think again. Both parties have had presidents that historically abused their powers.
Just as President Obama expanded the powers of the Patriot Act and made surveillance even worse, President Trump has presided over unidentified law enforcement personnel arresting protesters in many American cities.
The fact that unmarked vans drove throughout cities like Portland and dragged people to jail should terrify liberty-minded citizens everywhere.
So, do we have an overreaching government? Definitely, in our eyes. But it's not all lost, and we aren't quite in dictator territory just yet. Still, anyone committed to retaining their freedom should keep an eye on things as they develop and, in the worst-case scenario, prepare to fight if the government tries to overreach further. The COVID-19 epidemic is the perfect opportunity.
Thank you for reading,
Justin
Author
]]>Today, let’s break down our top five gun attachments you can buy right on this website for great prices!
A speed loader such as this one allows you to load a magazine extremely quickly. When used correctly, you'll be able to load one round per second: about 66% faster than if you were to thumb load cartridges into a magazine. The attachment rests on top of a magazine and feeds rounds sequentially – even better, it works with either single or double stack pistols depending on what you have. This speed loader is compatible with 9 mm, 10 mm, .357, 40, and 45-cal magazines.
Ultimately, it’s a phenomenal attachment to protect your fingers and magazines and help you get your mags loaded for a day at the shooting range in no time.
Keeping your guns safe often involves putting them inside a safe, too. Rather than keeping them hidden in your closet or under your bed, make sure your kids can’t accidentally find your guns and a burglar can’t steal your weaponry with this biometric digital safe.
Since it doesn’t rely on keys or passwords to protect your guns, it’s essentially impregnable and it’s made from solid steel. It’s easy to set up and access, and you can reprogram the safe with an additional passcode in addition to your biometric fingerprint. It can hold 120 fingerprints in total to give other people you trust access to the safe if necessary.
This reflex holographic sight is a perfect optical attachment for rifles and shotguns. It’s adjustable for four different styles of reticles, and in red or green colors depending on whether you’re shooting during the day or in dark environments, like the night. A 33 mm lens will allow you to acquire your target quickly, and you can select from up to seven brightness settings.
The sight is already premade to offer unlimited eye relief and correct for parallax. It’s durable, waterproof, and shockproof and is easy to mount onto any standard rail system.
Long-distance sharpshooters and snipers will get a lot of value out of this phenomenal monocular. It’s totally weatherproof and fireproof, making it a great hunting accessory. It has lenses that are fully multi-coated to improve light transmission and boost brightness and clarity.
You'll be able to swap between 15x and 45x magnification, and the monocular even comes with a tripod to let you view your target from any position.
This last phenomenal gun attachment is a tactical magnet. Install this anywhere you like and you can keep a defensive handgun within reach no matter what thanks to the powerful magnets embedded in its main compartments. For instance, you can easily mount this beneath your desk to protect yourself at work if you’re a bank manager.
The magnet also comes with a rubber top finishing so your firearms won’t be scratched. It comes with mounting tape backing as well to ensure that it never falters, even when placed facing the floor.
In the end, each of these excellent gun attachments or accessories provide real value to those who plan to use them properly. We’d definitely recommend picking up at least a couple to either increase your weapon handling or make your guns safer or easier to store. Let us know if you have questions about any of the pieces!
Justin
Author
]]>Here’s how we can work together to get real results...
Many people already advocate that you should vote in national elections, so we won’t repeat that here. Instead, we’ll stress that you should also vote in local elections.
Many sanctuary states that resist federal restrictions of gun rights are so free because their citizens vote for the right people in local elections. They participate in elections for counselors, state representatives, state senators, and the governor.
In a broader sense, voting in your local elections has a cumulative effect that will produce better federal representatives, like Senators, over the long term. It really is true that the best way to restore gun rights is to start from the bottom up!
However, there’s also something to be said for changing the national conversation through your own persuasive efforts. But you can’t change anybody’s mind if you don’t know the right data.
Take school shootings, for example. These are undoubtedly tragic events, but many people believe them to be far more common than they actually are. In truth, school shootings only make up a fraction of a fraction of a percent of all the gun violence deaths in America.
Learning the right statistics concerning gun violence and gun control will help you make valid points in your next debate. People can argue with emotional appeals, but they can’t argue with logic and raw facts.
When the time comes to debate someone on the other side of this issue, remember to approach the conversation calmly and without letting emotion get in the way. It’s just a fact that folks look down on those who lose their temper or who resort to personal attacks to get their way.
If you want to appear effective or win a debate, be calm and rational and rely on those facts you gathered from the step above.
As you work by voting and debating to change the gun control conversation, it’s important that you still follow the law. If you live in a state where gun control laws are strict, you aren’t helping your case by disobeying. In fact, you’re only proving your political opponents correct.
Obey the law and make sure to only buy or carry weapons properly. This is something you should be doing anyway, as gun enthusiasts should always respect the power of firearms. More importantly, acting this way protects you from accusations of violence or improper behavior.
Ultimately, the battle to restore gun rights will take a long time to be won. But it can be won, one step at a time, if we all follow the above tips and work together.
Justin
Author
]]>
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Let’s break down exactly how the Second Amendment protects us to this day, even though we don’t need to fear invasion anymore.
Remember that the Second Amendment provides the right to “bear arms” and maintain “a well-regulated militia”. Naturally, some folks try to argue about those written words and their intended meanings, but that’s literally what it says on the Constitution!
No, the Second Amendment does not say anyone can buy an AR-15. But it does say anyone can bear arms… which an AR-15 is.
Sometimes liberals or others will talk about the original intent of the Second Amendment, particularly because some believe that the Founding Fathers did not intend for it to allow regular citizens access to powerful weaponry.
Let’s have a history lesson, then. The Second Amendment was envisioned as a right allowing U.S. citizens to:
While the Founding Fathers certainly couldn’t have imagined the advanced and modern weaponry available to us today, they intended for every citizen to have access to a lethal firearm. We’d say their intent is clear enough.
But how does the Second Amendment protect us today? After all, we’re no longer in danger of being invaded by Britain!
However, there is some evidence to suggest that we need to stay wary about overreach by the U.S. federal government. Bills like the Patriot Act make it clear that the government has the ability to spy on its own citizens. In the event that the government ever does try to overreach, the Second Amendment ensures that America’s citizens will be able to actively resist.
Furthermore, the Second Amendment allows citizens to protect themselves from attackers like burglars, car thieves, and the like.
Basically, the Second Amendment is still important because it gives every citizen the option to put their protection in their own hands instead of having to wait on the police.
Even in the most optimistic scenario, it may take emergency services too long to reach you in a lethal self-defense situation.
As you can see, the Second Amendment still offers the average American citizen ways to protect themselves from whatever hazards they might encounter in everyday life.
Although we all don’t want to have to need to use our weapons, the fact that we have the option is more important than ever.
Stand strong and stand together, thank you for reading.
Justin
Author
]]>
But is this really a problem? Can the Second Amendment really be repealed so easily? Let’s answer this question by taking a look at history...
]]>
But is this really a problem? Can the Second Amendment really be repealed so easily? Let’s answer this question by taking a look at history.
The Founding Fathers had the foresight to recognize that the Constitution needed to be a living document. In other words, it needed to be amendable so that it could stay relevant as the concerns of the times changed.
This flexibility is quite important – many of the staple freedoms we enjoy today are actually amendments; rather than being inclusions of the initial Constitution document itself.
However, the Constitution makes amendment drafting and ratification a relatively difficult process. This is a protection to prevent the document from changing too whimsically or without the consent of a majority of its citizens.
In order to amend the Constitution, you have to:
Already, we’re at a big impasse – it’s rare for laws to pass easily these days when so many of us disagree on so many issues.
But what else needs to happen for a full amendment?
Why does this matter? Because you can only repeal an amendment with another amendment.
Interestingly, only a single amendment in the history of the US has ever been repealed: the 21st amendment. This particular amendment repealed the 18th amendment, which prohibited the “manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors”. Indeed, the 21st amendment saw the end of the “Prohibition” era.
Seen in this light, it's clear that any liberal coalition would have to ratify an entirely new amendment to repeal the Second. This new amendment would require a huge majority of approval from three-fourths of the states in the Union.
Sound difficult, if not impossible? That’s because it is. Rest assured, there are still plenty of reasons to worry about gun control laws these days.
But despite talking heads’ opinions, a repeal of the Second Amendment is not likely... Nor is it something to fret over.
Justin
Author
]]>
Firstly, remember the Second Amendment that outlaws the protections for firearms that people are all too easy to forget these days. The amendment specifically states that you have the right to bear arms – it does not stipulate that those arms have to be handguns or other types of regulated firearms.
While the gun control debate is still raging, the fact is that the Constitution itself is on our side. People can try to debate the exact terminology as much as they want, but the truth is right there in plain writing.
Furthermore, it always helps to look at the gun control laws in your state. This way, you can avoid saying something that’s technically not true in your current territory. Plus, you’ll be able to cite certain states that are now gun liberty sanctuaries, using their state law powers to prevent the federal government from infringing on the rights of their citizens.
Turns out, there are plenty of laws still working for the good of the American citizen. Don’t give up!
Perhaps even more important is avoiding getting emotional. Progressives that want to control practically all guns love to get their opponents emotional. It's a pretty common debate tactic: anyone who gets angry or frustrated first tends to lose in the eyes of spectators, regardless of the actual voracity or power of an argument.
So they’ll often use emotional appeals to get you to change your mind or make you uncertain. To stand your ground, practice being stoic and logical in the face of emotional retorts. If your opponent has to resort to emotional appeals or raging, then you’re actually winning the argument. Furthermore, this can be helpful if anyone tries to get confrontational about your firearm and the authorities have to get involved.
Police are much more likely to believe a calm, logical person at a gun freedom march or rally than someone raging at their opponent.
You should also remember that, at the end of the day, the stats are on our side of the argument. Let’s break it down. Per the most recently available data:
Understanding all these facts is important so you can adequately put up a verbal defense against anyone trying to change your mind about gun violence. The stats don’t lie: people do.
In short, there’s nothing to give your ground about if you already believe in gun freedom. You have stats and the law: these show that gun control as a concept has overreached. There’s nothing uncertain about it.
Justin
Author
]]>Let’s break down the top 5 everyday concealment solutions that will let you get the drop on anyone who tries to give you a hard time.
]]>Let’s break down the top 5 everyday concealment solutions that will let you get the drop on anyone who tries to give you a hard time...
There's a reason sheriffs, FBI agents, and even the Secret Service all use shoulder holsters – they allow you to carry your weapon beneath a jacket and fit practically all torso sizes. This particular shoulder holster enables a superfast draw and works for left or right-handed users. It's fully adjustable, so smaller or larger body frames are no issue.
Plus, it comes with a double magazine pouch and has a padded harness to increase your comfort. What’s not to like?
This is a better concealed carry holster for hot summer days or any occasion when you aren’t wearing a jacket. It comes in three sizes overall, but each holster is made with a stretchable material that is both soft and comfortable. Since it works for left or right-handed users, it's easily one of the most versatile holsters on the market.
The surgical-grade elastic holster comes with a retention strap, spare magazine pockets, and works for both men and women.
As with the belly band holster above, this concealed carry holster is made with surgical-grade elastic and stretches to accommodate any ankle size. Thus, it’s ideal for men or women and even works for your left or right ankle depending on your preferred shooting hand.
Even better, the holster is fairly durable and comes with a retention strap which you can optionally cut off to allow for a quicker draw. It's a great holster for most small pistols like 22s, 9 mms, or 38 revolvers.
This right-handed holster can fit the vast majority of compact or full-size pistols, so it'll suit your sidearm no matter which piece you prefer. The holster is made with durable competent padding, giving it some heavy-duty value. Even with this durability, the holster is easy to adjust for height and tightness, and features a quick release buckle.
Even though it also has an added magazine pouch, the soft interior ensures that you’ll be able to wear this holster all day without discomfort.
Ladies will love this concealed carry solution. The purse is made of cowhide leather, so it's a great accessory in and of itself, and it comes in three distinct colors. Most importantly, the purse is made with a zipper-lock to prevent kids from getting in and grabbing your pistol.
The purse is great for cross-body carry or shoulder carry and features wire-reinforced straps that you can adjust to the perfect length for your needs. Additional compartments for your other items like your phone mean it's a great purse for everyday use in addition to self-defense.
Any of these concealed carry solutions will be great for everyday use. Try one, or all of them – we’re sure you’ll find a perfect match for your needs.
Justin
Author
]]>