ALPS OutdoorZ introduces two new pieces to its Evolution Merino Wool series: the 150 Hoodie and 250 Bottoms. Both garments feature Woolmark-certified merino wool designed for superior breathability, moisture management, and odor elimination for outdoor adventures.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) presented its 2026 Golden Bowtie Award to Don Kilmer, a constitutional law litigator and Second Amendment advocate with over 25 years of experience. Kilmer, who has represented SAF in numerous cases and co-authored a law school casebook on firearms law, was honored for his significant contributions to the organization's mission.

Team Leapers' Randy Olds and Roy Mitchell earned two overall wins and four Top Civilian finishes at the 2026 CMP New England Games in Jericho, Vermont, competing with the Integrix iXF 4.5X28 Service Rifle Scope and bringing the team's season total to 27 first-place finishes.

Firearms Policy Coalition filed a federal lawsuit challenging Colorado and Denver laws that deny non-residents the ability to carry handguns for self-defense. The case, Hoffman v. City and County of Denver, represents FPC's continued nationwide litigation against residency-based carry restrictions, following successful challenges in California, New York, and Louisiana.

The inaugural FFL Compliance Summit, "The Briefing," concluded a sold-out event in Dallas featuring direct dialogue between Federal Firearms Licensees and leadership from the ATF and FBI. ATF Director Robert Cekada delivered the keynote address on "The New Era of FFL Compliance," with sessions covering NFA transfers, Form 4473 processing, and regulatory updates. The event was supported by title sponsors FastBound, FFLGuard, Gearfire, and U.S. LawShield.

Bryan Tucker, CEO of Davidson's, Inc., has made a second $25,000 personal contribution to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC for the 2026 election cycle, matching his 2024 commitment. Tucker's renewed support demonstrates confidence in the PAC's mission to elect candidates who will protect Second Amendment rights and constitutional freedoms.

Silencer Central founder and CEO Brandon Maddox has doubled his commitment to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC to $50,000 with a second $25,000 contribution, matching the company's 2024 support level and demonstrating confidence in the PAC's mission to elect candidates who will protect Second Amendment rights.

MidwayUSA is hiring three Product Specialists in Columbia, Missouri for Sporting Optics & Scopes, Guns, and Clothing, Footwear & Marketplaces categories. The position offers a salary range of $55,000-$71,500 with comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work for a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-winning company.

Trijicon announced the REAP-IR-50 thermal riflescope series featuring a 1024×768 high-resolution thermal sensor, 1280×1024 OLED display, integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, and optional laser rangefinder. The scope includes video recording, 64GB internal memory, and is designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States.

Sightmark has launched two new Solitude HD spotting scope models: the 9-27x56 Micro designed for portability at 21.6 ounces, and the 15-45x65 Compact offering greater magnification and light-gathering capability. Both feature fully multi-coated glass, digiscoping-optimized eyepieces, and field-ready construction with nitrogen-purged, fogproof systems.

Aegis Optics officially launches its flagship product catalog featuring red dot sights and precision scopes, including the Sentinel and Vanguard red dot lines and Pathfinder scopes. The optics are exclusively available on RETAY's RXP22 and RA1522 rifle and pistol platforms.

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action announced Winchester Ammunition as an official partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour, which will visit 13 states with over 60 planned stops through Election Day 2026. Winchester Ammunition, known as "The American Legend," is the leading small-caliber ammunition brand and largest supplier to the U.S. military.

HeadHunters NW released the "Fake Recruiter Podcast" episode featuring Mike Petronella and Aaron Hutsell, creator of GhostJob, a Chrome extension that helps job seekers identify fraudulent LinkedIn job postings. The episode discusses sophisticated recruitment scams and verification strategies for job seekers.

Zanders, a national firearms distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, is now stocking the Winchester SXR2 MG4 DBM in .300 Win. Magnum, .30-06, .308 Win, and 9.3x62 calibers. The semi-automatic hunting rifle features a classic blued finish and walnut stock with detachable box magazine capability.

Franklin Armory announced Rabbit Rounds™, a patent-pending multi-projectile cartridge featuring four spin-stabilized projectiles designed for AR-style rifles. Available in 5.56x45mm, the ammunition achieves 3,150 feet-per-second muzzle velocity and maintains effective patterns beyond 40 yards for hunting smaller game.

Derya Arms, an international firearms manufacturer with operations in Jacksonville, Florida and Konya, Türkiye, has launched the EX1500 lever-action .410 shotgun in three configurations: an 18-inch Ironwolf tactical model, a 20-inch walnut-and-nickel field model, and a 24-inch engraved hard-chrome heirloom model, all now shipping through authorized dealers nationwide.

Langdon Tactical Technology (LTT) has expanded its product lineup with the LTT Steyr ATD, combining Steyr Arms' modern DA/SA pistol platform with LTT's custom refinements. The pistol features a modular trigger system, optics-ready slide, and is available in standard and compensated configurations, both chambered in 9mm.

Liberty Ammunition announced that Galveston County District Attorney's Office has adopted Liberty Ammunition Pro Series. CEO Gary Ramey stated the department sought ammunition with greater stopping power and lighter weight, which Liberty Ammunition's Pro Series provides while meeting FBI protocols.

EAA Corp. and Girsan firearms announce nationwide distribution of the Witness2311 XXX Series compact 9mm double-stack 1911 models, featuring a grip module 25% smaller than standard full-size models. The CMX XXX and SC9 XXX will ship through EAA's distributor network beginning October 2026, with the SC9 XXX starting at $599.

Meprolight USA is relaunching its "Buy an Optic, Get a Can" suppressor rebate promotion from October 1 through December 31, 2026. Customers purchasing qualifying Meprolight optics receive a rebate card for a free Backdraft Suppressors Hunter suppressor valued at $189.99.

Bleecker Street Publications announced Karen Hunter as Editorial Lead for Gun University and Contributing Editor for Athlon Outdoors. Hunter brings over a decade of firearms industry experience, extensive instructional expertise through The Hunter Academy, and hundreds of published articles to the role.

Colt will support the Colt Collectors Association's 2026 All Colt Show and Auction in Noblesville, Indiana, October 1–4. CEO Jillair Kubish will attend, emphasizing Colt's commitment to supporting collectors who preserve firearms history and the stories behind them.

Blue Force Gear will exhibit at SHOP Show 2026 on October 6 in Raeford, North Carolina, showcasing the Micro Trauma Kit NOW! and Nano ES medical equipment solutions designed for rapid access and compact carry.

Beretta USA will serve as platinum sponsor of the 2026 Green Top Outdoor Expo on October 3-4 in Ashland, Virginia, featuring displays of the AX800 Suprema, B22 Jaguar, and A400 Solo firearms. Ward and Jeb Burton of Crossroads with the Burtons will join for a meet and greet on Sunday, with consumer rebates up to $300 available on select models.

Precise Recruiting Solutions, a leading recruiting firm in the firearms and outdoor industries, is sponsoring the cocktail hour at the 2026 NASGW Annual Expo on October 13th. The event will provide networking opportunities for manufacturers, wholesalers, and industry professionals.

Mark 7 Reloading is sponsoring the 2026 US IPSC Nationals, organized by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), taking place October 1-4 at Greater Pittsburgh Gun Club in Pennsylvania. Tom Carlson and Conor Craig will represent Mark 7 at the event featuring 21 dynamic competitive shooting stages.

I’ve received information regarding the passing of retired Detroit MI Police Sergeant Evan Marshall. I’d read his material in the years before I met him and I spent far too little time with him. 

He began his police career in Detroit in 1969, a wild time indeed. Soon after he started, he and a partner were sent on a call that was set-up for an ambush. Help arrived in time, but he was low on ammunition before they got there. He retired from the Homicide Section of the Detroit Police Dept in 1989 with the rank of Sergeant with experience in the Crime Lab, Crime Scene Investigation, the Tactical Unit, Department Sniper, and Training Sergeant for the SWAT Team.

Evan well knew the relationship between gear and the software element of officer survival. Without the brain, properly employed, gear didn’t matter. Gear could help give you an edge or, more likely, be a lifeline to help get out of trouble. 

If you understand the way in was in those bad old days, you’d understand the way Evan processed information. He thought that those who were known as being paranoid tended to be optimists. And it’s not really paranoia if they are out to get you.

As he was a south-paw, he wore his back-up gun – a concept he was a proponent of – on the right side, mostly in a pocket. There are analysts who say that the back-up gun that’s not an equivalent in shootability, accuracy and power of the main holster armament is worthless. Evan was the guy who proved that wrong.

If you’re not up to the equipment’s capability, that’s your problem to sort out. He did. 

After his tumultuous career at Detroit, he worked for firearms companies including Ruger and Israel Military Industries, was a contract training specialist for the US Dept. of Energy nuclear security element, wrote books (which were broadly misunderstood), and articles. His column in Combat Handguns was read by cops, including me. His writing shaped the thinking and gear selection for many of us over the years. 

Evan was largely about tactics. While he’s remembered more for discussions of gear and his Stopping Power books, written with Ed Sanow, his achievement was teaching people how to stay out of danger. 

His impact on the officer survival movement can’t be estimated; comments on social media after his passing spoke more to that part of his life’s work. 

For his efforts on our behalf, I’m grateful. 

So this feature doesn’t end up a revolving obituary column, let’s check some nuggets written by Evan, quoted by others. The first, from a column in Combat Handguns, where he describes his approach to being caught in a robbery in progress:

"As long as all they’re doing is robbing the till, I’m going to act like a CPA from Akron and be a good witness. But if they start searching people, making people get down on their knees, or herding people into a back room, my wife knows to get away from me because I’m going to start shooting."

Another, quoted in an old email from a member of the faithful, when Evan addressed the loss of lessons learned at so dear a price:

"It horrifies me to see the almost daily murder of cops. It frustrates me that we don't seem to be learning much. When I was a rookie cop in Detroit, I did my best to find out the details of every officer involved shooting. Several old timers told me you never second guess another copper. I thought that was nonsense then and now.

“If we can't learn from others deaths we're guaranteed to continue to lose officers under similar circumstances. I found out all I could and there are coppers who hate me to this day.

“You see, I stood there in my uniform spotless with my shoes highly polished and wept as a brother or sister was laid to rest. These tragedies need to stop.

“Nothing is ever routine and every run you makes is a gun run because you bring a gun to it. Always wear your vest, carry a second gun and don't ever assume anything. God bless."

Finally, a list of things Evan said he’d learned from those who came before him, the WWII generation in civilian law enforcement:

"Evan if you're in a fight and it lasts longer than a minute, you're losing it!"

“We pulled up on a bank alarm and as I started to jump out, he grabbed my Sam Browne shoulder strap and said, "Evan this ain't Hollywood and you ain't John Wayne. I don't go in banks. We'll just wait out here and ambush them!"”

"Did you search him? Well, search him again and this time search like you're in love with him. Find a gun? Keep searching. Find two guns? Strip search him. Then when we get him in the lock up, I'll search him again so we never leave him armed with an unarmed cop!"

"Got the shotgun? Good but did you check to see if it’s fully loaded? Those 4 rounds might be the only thing that gets us home safe and sound!"

Vaya con Diós, Evan – as I know you have.

– Rich Grassi