The Second Amendment Foundation, joined by the National Rifle Association, California Rifle and Pistol Association, Second Amendment Law Center, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, filed an amicus brief in Johnson v. Jacobson urging the Supreme Court to require states honor concealed-carry permits issued by other states.

Firearms Policy Coalition filed a motion for summary judgment in Struck v. Davenport asking the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to declare the state's one-gun-a-month handgun purchase ban unconstitutional. FPC's motion cites its successful strike-down of California's similar law and argues New Jersey cannot identify the historical tradition required to justify the restriction.

The Briefing FFL Compliance Summit expands its September 23–25 Dallas agenda with sessions on NFA operations, state regulations, and counter strategies featuring Travis Glover of Silencer Shop, Chris Chiafullo of FFLGuard, ATF and FBI representatives, plus evening receptions sponsored by Trident 1, Lipsey's, and U.S. LawShield.

PROOF Research hired Sean Murphy as director of sales and marketing. Murphy brings 15 years of firearms industry experience from roles at Sons of Liberty Gun Works, Nightforce Optics, and KGM Suppressors, plus 20 years as a competitive shooter and decade-long member of PROOF Research's Shooting Team.

Safariland announced Sergeant Mauricio Valle of the Houston Police Department as Save #2233 in the Safariland Saves Club. After being ambushed in December 2023, Sgt. Valle's Safariland armor protected him while he returned fire and ended the threat, ultimately returning to full duty.

Range USA, the nation's largest indoor gun range and firearm retailer, announced its grand opening in Smyrna, Tenn. on September 18-20, 2026. The 15,000-square-foot facility features 20 shooting lanes, retail space, and classrooms, marking the company's 52nd location nationwide.

VIKTOS, the U.S. veteran-designed brand, celebrates its ninth anniversary in 2026, marking nine years of designing performance-driven footwear, apparel, bags, gloves, and accessories. Founded in 2017, the company credits its success to customers, dealers, industry partners, and community support in shaping the brand's continued growth and product refinement.

Project ChildSafe, a program of the NSSF, partnered with Slingit to help families manage inherited firearm collections responsibly. The collaboration allows individuals to designate Project ChildSafe as a beneficiary of sale proceeds, supporting firearm safety education and community initiatives.

NSSF released its 2026 Congressional Report Card grading U.S. Representatives and Senators on firearm industry legislation and Second Amendment issues. Fourteen Senators and 71 Representatives earned the "Dean's List" distinction with perfect voting records, while 13 Senators and 41 Representatives received "A+" ratings.

Winchester announces a new 7-part Big Game Ammo 101 video series with the first episode now live on the Winchester Ammunition YouTube Channel. The series features Winchester experts testing big game loads covering accuracy, terminal performance, and ballistics to help hunters select appropriate ammunition.

Vortex Optics introduced its Pro Cantilever Mounts & Accessories system, a USA-built platform enabling shooters to configure rifles for multiple optics and applications. The system includes Pro Cantilever Mounts, 45° Offset Red Dot Mounts, 12 O'Clock Red Dot Mounts, and Diving Board Mounts compatible with thermal clip-ons and ballistic ranging devices.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) launched a community server for BULKHEAD's game WARDOGS to connect Second Amendment advocates. With over 400,000 peak active players and 1 million copies sold on day one, CCRKBA Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb stated the server extends their mission into gaming spaces where supporters already gather.

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action announced SIG SAUER as an official partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour, a national bus campaign visiting 13 states with over 60 planned stops through Election Day. SIG SAUER, headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, manufactures firearms, electro-optics, and ammunition for military, law enforcement, and civilian customers.

Gearfire announced a new integration with MGE Wholesale, expanding dealer access to exclusive firearms, optics, knives, and shooting sports accessories. The partnership provides Gearfire retailers with MGE's 20-year manufacturer relationships and restricted dealer network brands through automated inventory streaming and dropshipping.

Derya Arms, an international firearms manufacturer with operations in Jacksonville, Florida and Konya, Türkiye, has signed a collaboration agreement with Olympic silver medalist Yusuf Dikec. Dikec will share insights on sporting use and user experience with Derya Arms' engineering and product development teams to support performance and ergonomics initiatives.

Celerant Technology partnered with SIG SAUER to integrate a dealer locator on SIG SAUER's website, connecting over 1 million monthly shoppers with local dealers carrying available inventory. The integration helps dealers convert online interest into in-store sales while providing inventory insights to reduce missed opportunities.

The Guns & Ammo Buzz Podcast episode #46 features Field Editor Keith Wood interviewing Schauland Performance Founder Rob Schauland about his journey through Springfield Armory, Les Baer, Alchemy and Cabot, hand-fit 1911 construction, custom finishes, and his new retro-inspired 1994 double-stack pistol.

Orion Wholesale and Taylor Customs announced The Banger, a custom CANiK SFx Rival pistol featuring a distinctive cyan, purple, magenta and black finish. Built on CANiK's competition-ready platform with a 5-inch barrel and optics-ready slide, it's the first of three exclusive custom designs coming soon.

MDT announced the One Piece NV Bridge, a 13-inch 20 MOA night vision bridge for MDT chassis forends that co-witnesses clip-on thermal or night vision optics with riflescopes. Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum with Type III hard anodizing, the bridge fits ACC Elite, ACC Premier Gen2, and LSS Gen3 Competition forends and is available September 15, 2026.

Primary Arms Optics has released the CLx 1-6x24 SFP Rifle Scope featuring the ACSS 22LR G2 reticle, specifically calibrated for .22 LR ammunition. The scope offers 1-6x magnification, illuminated reticle with wind holds, and is priced at $199.99 with a lifetime warranty.

C&H Precision introduced the COMP red dot sight, an RMR-footprint optic priced at $299.99 featuring a 50,000-hour battery life, IPX7 waterproofing, and rating for +P and +P+ ammunition. The sight offers 10 brightness levels, Motion Control Technology, and compatibility across optics-ready pistols.

Henry Repeating Arms has launched the Founding Fathers Collection, featuring seven limited-edition tribute rifles honoring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton. Each rifle is limited to 250 individually numbered pieces, with only 10 complete matched sets available, priced at $1,776 per rifle and exclusively sold at HenryUSA.com.

Iron Valley Supply is offering limited-time deals on Springfield Armory firearms through September 20th, including a closeout special on the Saint Edge ATC with savings up to $400. In-stock products only with no backorders available.

Silencer Central is tripling reward points on all purchases from Sept. 14-30, 2026, allowing customers to earn three points per dollar spent. VIP members earn even more points based on tier status, with rewards redeemable for discounts and free shipping on suppressors and accessories.

The Armory Life magazine's Fall 2026 issue features the Springfield Echelon Alpha 4.0C 9mm pistol on the cover alongside Dr. Will Dabbs, the "Cantius Award" recipient. The issue includes reviews of Springfield products and pieces on firearms accessories, plus a historical article on a WWI-era flamethrowing bayonet.

Bleecker Street Publications expands its sales organization with the addition of Neal Kaufman and Troy Smith, joining existing representatives Scott Buchmayr, Amos Crowley, and Scott Cherek. The move strengthens the company's ability to connect advertisers with engaged audiences across firearms, hunting, outdoor recreation, and enthusiast markets.

The Headrest Safe Company will exhibit at America's Largest RV Show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, September 16-20, showcasing its vehicle storage solutions. The 57th annual event, presented by the Pennsylvania Recreational Vehicle and Camping Association, expects 1,500 RVs from 40 manufacturers.

CCW Safe announced its title sponsorship of the sixth annual Guardian Conference, hosted by concealedcarry.com at the Oklahoma City Gun Club, September 18-20, 2026. The 3-day live-fire defensive handgun training event features instruction from top trainers, with CCW Safe's National Trial Counsel Don West, Assistant Counsel Jennifer Chance, and Litigation Consultant Shawn Vincent leading a class on self-defense legal considerations.

MidwayUSA Foundation launched its annual Hometown Challenge sweepstakes in September, matching donations of $20 or more to youth shooting sports teams while offering over $30,000 in prizes from sponsors including SK Guns, Ruger, Glock, Savage, and others. Top fundraising teams earn endowment awards up to $15,000.

Outdoor Action TV, powered by Careco, expands its content offerings across FAST platforms and Video-On-Demand. The channel features premium content from respected outdoor producers with live events capability and strong industry connections, reaching passionate outdoor enthusiasts and attracting both endemic and mainstream advertisers.

Is it really “either-or?” Procedures are the step-by-step “book” answers to any situation; a bit unrealistic for the world in which we find ourselves. Variables confound the orderly, obsessive-compulsive adherence to “everything has a place, everything in its place.”

Add to this the concept if your procedures aren’t based on sound principles, you must reassess your decision making.

Use the example of a car stop. When stopping a violator, do you just turn on the flashing lights, get them to pull over, then wander up to ask for license, registration, insurance? Then when you get back to the car, call in the stop on the air or log it in otherwise, and play on the MDT – or however you children do that these days?

When I hired on to my second major police job, I was instructed how to call in a car stop. They had a procedure. 

It was location, then vehicle description, then plate, then a description of occupants. It sounded a little like this:

“38 stopping a violator.”

“38.”

“4^th and Pine, a tan Chevrolet 4-door, Adam-Boy-Charles-1-2-3, one male occupant.”

“238.”

In the example it was “who” (your radio number), “what” (car stop), “where” – location, vehicle description (first), tag (second) and description of occupants – as best you can see.

Why that procedure? Well, if you got killed, they had an idea where to start looking for your body and witnesses, what vehicle to seek (even if the plate was pulled off or changed) and some idea how many people and what kind of people are in the car. It may assist in the eventual apprehension and prosecution of your attacker.

You still have to exercise due care, but you got it all out on the air – before turning the lights on.

You understand that unwitnessed property crimes and violent crimes committed by offenders against people they have no association with were the hardest crimes to solve, right? Making a person of this description, in a vehicle of this description that (at least at one time) which had this particular registration plate on it and appearing at this specific location, could be helpful in after-the-fact prosecution. 

Now we have dash cams, mobile data terminals, badge cams and GPS on the cars – even the availability of the “ever-popular” license plate reader technology (/sarcasm) – but it’s still a plan, even if your technological marvels fail to function. 

Things happen. 

I used that method, but my addition was calling in all in before ever notifying the violator that he was being stopped. I mentally predicted where he’d stop – it didn’t really matter as all the relevant information was on the air and I could update location as needed. 

That way, I’m not in my car, at the side of the road with a violator, trying to unbuckle, call it in and look out for approaching traffic all at the same time. It gave me time to observe. 

Time, I had. When there’s nothing but air between me and potential incoming gunfire, time was a valuable ally. 

In terms of procedure, we’d gotten into “if it works once, put it in the manual.” That’s a bad idea because no two situations are exactly alike – and the opposition gets a vote. 

With principles, we fit the approach (or non-approach) to existing – and sometimes quickly changing – conditions. 

An example of a principle is “be predictably unpredictable.” Everyone who knows you should know that you’ll be where you’re not expected to be in every situation. If they expect you to drive up to an address in response to a call for service, don’t do that. Consider walking on the diagonal in your approach to a residence – instead of straight along a sidewalk -- or approaching from the back of the residence. 

In the pre-mobile phone days, I’d sometimes have dispatch call the reporting party to ask to meet me outside the residence.

It gave me a chance to assess the situation without placing myself into the potential battle space. 

Procedures, when they’re specific to a range of potential scenarios, and can be done safely are fine. The principles that form the basis for procedures are gold dust; they allow you to adjust, adapt and accommodate. 

– Rich Grassi