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Maybe it’s time to stop dousing the fire in gun owner bellies, especially with top administration officials making inane comments that spit in the faces of Second Amendment activists — the very people Republicans need to win. [More] In what reality is making core constituents feel like they’re being used smart politics?

The post Disparaging Armed Citizens Undermines Trump Administration’s Credibility first appeared on The War on Guns.

Hughes struck that entire response, noting that Solis had admitted he failed to disclose his use of AI in the filing. Hughes also blasted Solis for using “hallucinated and false citations,” online court records show. [More] Who ever heard of such a thing? Y’know, you do that in writing and academia, and it’s considered plagiarism. … Continue reading "Garbage Out"

The post Garbage Out first appeared on The War on Guns.

Mass suicide, coming soon to a refuge near you… [More] Although I’m not sure I’d be including John Cleese in any points I hoped to make… [Via Michael G]

The post Meanwhile, Across the Pond… first appeared on The War on Guns.

OldNFO has an important post about how Microsoft is moving very aggressively to a 100% online subscription licensing model.  This is important enough that I won't excerpt any of this; instead, you should go read the whole thing.  It's not too  long, but if you care about the security of your home network (especially the whole who has access to my data and can I even know thing), go read.  I'll wait.

What this means is that you don't own any Microsoft software.  Sure, you may think that because you paid them money (most often when you bought your computer - some of that purchase price went to Microsoft in the form of a license fee for Windows).  But you actually don't own "your" copy of software.  At all.

Rather, you have the right to run the software on your computer.  That may not seem like a big difference, but it is.  The license agreement (you know, the one you didn't read before you clicked "I Agree") allows Microsoft to change the terms of the agreement at any time, at their pleasure.

Microsoft has just done this in a big, big way.  Key new stuff in Windows 11 is:

• AI integrated with your operating system
• Online presence is critical for lots of Windows now (e.g. AI)
• Windows will nag you until you put all your data online (OneDrive) whether you want to or not. 

The proper technical term for that first bullet point is that your Windows operating system is essentially now an "AI Agent" which if you are a regular reader you know is very, very bad security juju.

Combine this enormous security hole with the requirement to essentially be online 100% of the time (bad security) and the liklihood that OneDrive will slurp all your data to some Internet black hole in a Microsoft data center, Windows is simply unsecurable.

Yes, I know that is inflammatory, but there is simply no way that you can get assurance that your security is sane.  I say that as someone who has spent decades inn Internet Security (and particularly in security assurance).  Not to put too fine a point on it, but I don't think that I could get decent assurance that things aren't going "bump in the Net".  For most of the readers here, it's not even worth trying.

So what do you do, assuming that you are not a tech nerd like me?

Interestingly, Microsoft has just flipped the technical script on this.  It used to be that it was easier to stay on Windows than to move to alternatives like Linux.  Now that's out the window, at least if you want to protect your data from that OneDrive vacuum cleaner and whatever the AI agent will do to you. 

But this is admittedly a big step for a lot of people.  So as it turns out, you can "kick the tires" on all the different flavors of Linux without installing it.  All you need is a web browser. 

This is really slick.  The Linux equivalent of the Windows Start Menu lets you try all the apps (I use the Office apps which are every bit equivalent to Word and Excel, etc, and will save files in Microsoft format like .DOCX).

Take a few weeks poking around, you will likely see that it's not a big learning curve.  

This guy got arrested at a Christmas parade in Florida for wearing a body armor vest concealed under his shirt. The problem is, that wasn’t illegal. I saw this in the news, with cops taking a victory lap and Karens rejoicing about it, so I put in a request for the footage, and just got … Continue reading "L-a-a-ambert!"

The post L-a-a-ambert! first appeared on The War on Guns.

Only one House Dem voted in favor of voter ID, proof of citizenship in US elections [More] Gee, it’s almost like they have an ulterior motive… Funny, how the number 213 keeps coming up with Democrats. Good thing this has nothing to do with that “single issue”!

The post None Dare Call It Treason first appeared on The War on Guns.

Under the settlement, the company must cease all sales of the MA Lock in New York, “remove any statements that claim the MA Lock is legal in New York, state on all packaging that the MA Lock cannot be sold or resold in New York, and notify all businesses currently selling the MA Lock that … Continue reading "Terms of Surrender"

The post Terms of Surrender first appeared on The War on Guns.

Federal judge releases four illegal immigrants convicted of murder, sex crimes from ICE Custody [More] So… is anybody going to do anything about him? Besides vote Democrat in the midterms?

The post In Your Face with Impunity first appeared on The War on Guns.

The Tumbler Ridge school shooting is confirmed, with reports of 9-10 deaths and 25+ injuries. Some media outlets name 17-18-year-old transgender Jesse Strang as the shooter, citing family sources, with claims of starting transition at 15 and being on SSRIs. However, official police statements have not yet confirmed the identity or these specifics. [More] Why … Continue reading "Grok This"

The post Grok This first appeared on The War on Guns.

A Pentagon plan to use a high-energy, counter-drone laser without having coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration about potential risks to civilian flights prompted Wednesday’s unprecedented airspace shutdown over El Paso, Texas, multiple sources told CNN.

Two people familiar with the matter said later Wednesday that Customs and Border Protection, not the US military, was in control of the laser technology when it was used this week around El Paso to shoot down balloons.

The National Instant background Check System (NICS) adjusted figures for January, 2026 show a slight drop from those of January, 2025. From the National Shooting Sports Foundation:

The January 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,198,879 is a decrease of 0.7 percent compared to the January 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 207,557. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2026 FBI NICS figure of 2,172,185 reflects a 5.6 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,299,989 in January 2025.

As noted by the NSSF, the unadjusted NICS numbers, which include checks for various gun permits and re-checks for the same, are down 5.6%. This is likely a reflection of the increasing "permitless" or Constitutional Carry states.

On a positive note, the NSSF’s report on NFA items saw a massive increase compared to 2025. From the NSSF:

“The January 2026 NFA figure of 206,871 is an increase of 121.2 percent compared to the January 2025 figure of 93,518.”

Other than a slight jump up in 2006 - 2008, the rise in firearm sales reflected in the adjusted NICS figures, corresponds to both the Heller decision in 2008 and the election of Barack Obama as President in late 2008. The prominent spikes in sales occurred just after the re-election of President Obama in 2013, the run-up to the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, and the aftermath of the 2020 election during the first year of the Biden administration. 

By comparison, the years of the George W. Bush presidency, the first Trump term, the last three years of the Biden Administration and the first year of the second Trump term have been relatively flat.  The jump up from 2005 to 2025 has been enormous. 2000 - 2005 sales look flat and similar to 2022 - 2026.  When adjusted for population increase, estimated gun sales per capita have increased in January. 

The US population 2000-2005 averaged about 287 million, with adjusted NICs about 535,000 for those first of the year months. From 2022 - 2026 the population averaged about 337 million, with adjusted NICS about 1.20 million for those Januarys.

Analysis: Several factors are in play. Foremost are the enormous changes in the political structure since 2008. President Obama, elected to bring closure to race-division in the United State, did the opposite, exacerbating and escalating racial strife to levels not seen since the 1960s. He was able to form a new coalition of single white women, homosexuals, Asians, blacks, and others except white, straight men.  His policies were a weak USA, elevation of Iran, a weak NATO, and elevating the climate hoax for the benefit of China. The reaction to these destructive policies was President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden was President Obama's third term. It was disastrous. President Trump, in his Second term, is presiding over a counter revolution to the "fundamental change" President Obama forced on the nation.

Both the Republicans and the Democratic party have been unwilling to take the heat to step away from the crippling and suicidal debt inflicted on the USA. The only solution appears to be extraordinary growth. President Trump has been promoting this potential avenue to survival.

Part of the growth is an tremendous increase in productivity in the United States. It is one of the reasons for the rise in firearm sales. Excellent, practical firearms are historically cheap in the United States, when considered in constant dollars. The primary reason is the cost of making them has dropped due to superior technology. This correspondent grew up with the Savage 99. It is an excellent deer rifle. So are the Winchester 94 and the Marlin 336.  They are wonderful examples of the gun-makers art at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the smokeless powder, non-corrosive primer era.

The requirements to produce those rifles are not well suited to the more efficient technologies of the 21st century.  A new rifle in these models runs over $1200 and up. A new semi-auto based on the AR15 platform performs as well, with better accuracy, for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.  Good centerfire defensive handguns are available, new, for less than the constant dollar cost of a surplus 1911A1 in 1960. A new, semi-auto .22 rimfire can be had for less than a quarter of the constant dollar cost of a semi-auto .22 in 1960. These prices are in spite of increasing, choking government regulation.

At the moment, sales appear to be leveling off. There may be some market saturation. Handguns have become more popular than rifles or shotguns. Serious innovation maybe rewarded, but is a gamble. Rising prosperity may bring more sales. Rising security may inhibit sales. The Trump Department of Justice has declared the ban on mailing handguns by the USPS  unconstitutional. How this may affect sales is unclear.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch 

A 17-year-old boy who was breaking into a vehicle in Southwest Philly overnight was shot after an off-duty officer with the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office and a family member fired at him, officials said.

According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, the incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. along the 7300 block of Bunting Place, in Southwest Philadelphia, when an off-duty officer for the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office spotted someone breaking into his private vehicle.

Small said "for reasons unknown at this time," the officer fired his gun at the the individual inside the vehicle, a Honda Accord. Another member of the officer's family also fired his gun at the teen, Small said.

More Here

Navarro, who was known by at least one person at the party, arrived at the scene armed with a gun and started causing a disturbance, authorities said. During the disturbance, Navarro fired at least one round into the crowd inside the apartment, authorities said.

The man who was shot possibly returned fire, striking the shooter, police said. Detectives are continuing to interview multiple witnesses.

More Here

February 12, 1935: The 785-foot long rigid airship USS Macon (pictured above, at Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California) was downed in a storm off Point Sur, California, with the loss of two lives, and 64 people rescued. — On February 12, 1873 US Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1873, abolishing bimetallism and placing the country on the gold standard. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, …

The post Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 12, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

(Continued from Part 1.) The following are the basic tools I use to harvest and butcher fowl: Large stainless steel bowl. I put several quarts of water in the pot (the amount of water varies on how many birds I am harvesting) to keep the meat from drying out and to help keep flies away if they are present. I also butcher where running water is easily accessible to wash my hands when necessary. Sharp knife. My preferred knife for cleaning and butchering is a medium-sized, antique, high-carbon steel butcher knife with a very thin blade. This knife is from …

The post Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 2, by Lodge Pole appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, Washington state’s knife ban legislation. A Knife Ban is Planned in Washington Reader D.S.V.  spotted this: Draconian Knife Ban Bill Rises from the Dead in Washington. A pericope: …

The post The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

“Hunting forces a person to endure, to master themselves, even to truly get to know the wild environment. Actually, along the way, hunting and fishing makes you fall in love with the natural world. This is why hunters so often give back by contributing to conservation.” – Donald Trump, Jr.

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Grok has been helping me figure out how to replace CFC with aluminum tube with minimal weight increase. It appears that .5" OD .035" wall is slightly stiffer than the CFC tube that I now use for the axes. This lets me reuse my existing polar and declination housings, bearings, and drive gears.

I have been attempting to learn to use FreeCAD and no tutorial seems to get me over the first step of converting a two dimensional drawing into a 3D object.  I know at least one of you has admitted FreeCAD experience. I would be quite happy to pay someone to use Remote Desktop Connection and help me past this obstacle.

UPDATE: Just realized that I do not need to replace existing housing and axes  They are already cut 

Referencing some recent comments on the previous post. 

Harbor Freight, or as I call it, Hobo Freight, is a constant in my shop.  I buy a lot of Harbor Freight tools, because they work.

My buddy, Jay, who died in December, had his A&P license and ran a small manufacturing business where he made tools for the helicopter maintenance trade.  Jay didn't mind spending money on tools, that is how he made his living.  His machine shop had big lathes, mills, all the high-dollar stuff.  In the welding room, I happen to notice one day that every bench had a cheap, Hobo Freight angle grinder on the bench.

I asked him about it.

"They work," he said. "And when they quit, I go buy another one for $15.00."  He appreciated high quality tools but realized the value in a cheap angle grinder that would work for him for two or three years. Sometimes there is value in cheap tools.

Twenty years ago, I didn't trust battery tools.  If I could find a plug and string an extension cord, I could work all day.  Nowadays I don't care to work all day.  When the battery needs a recharge, I take a break.

I can still do a full days work, it just takes me most of the week.

Any man who is 70 and works as hard as he did when he was 35, didn't do much when he was 35.

Long time Internet Security guy Fred Cohen has some interesting thoughts on how AI can be less obnoxious [PDF]:

The nature of the problem (I think) is that the attempts at safety reflect the behavior of the people who programmed and trained the AI engines, and they are apparently snarky, obnoxious twits that think its better to argue about meta issues than to serve their customers, like me, with the real capabilities they have developed. 

Their version of safety is the opposite of mine. If you want children to be safe from AI, don’t let them use it. 

If you want adults to be safe from AI, don’t make it available. 

If you want a ship to be safe, don’t put it out to sea… but that’s not what ships are for. We trade the utility for the safety, and while making ships that leak like a sieve is a bad idea in my view, making ships that don’t sail is a fruitless effort.

... 

Solution 

The solution is to put someone in charge of these mechanisms in these companies who is not a snarky, obnoxious twit… and I hope this doesn’t exclude me from the candidate pool. 

There are also some rather direct solutions to the problem of providing information to people where the information is not something that should be provided to anybody as a matter of policy. The most obvious solution is not to incorporate any of that sort of policy-violating information in the learning process. 

Of course the snarkiness is the same problem. If you don’t teach the LLM to be snarky by feeding it snarky crap, it will probably not behave that way. It’s no different than a child brought up by respectful parents vs. disrespectful parents. They learn from their teachers. 

Conclusions 

If you don’t want trouble, stop asking for it. If you teach a dog to bite, you are unlikely to be successful at later telling it not to. If you train an LLM with views of pedophiles, fraudsters, and murderers, you are unlikely to get it to not carry that behavior through later on. 

I think that Fred's entirely correct here (note that we ignore the very serious problem of AI Hallucinations here). AI training is generally crap layered on top of the hallucination engine*.

But I wonder if this is an opportunity for AI companies?  If you did a better job training the AI to be well-behaved (like you'd do with your kids or your dogs) would you have a different - and more attractive AI offer?  How about politeand wellbehavedAI.com?  That's a branding that would stand out from all the others.  You could market it to parents worried about their kids, or to old fuddy-duddies like me who hate everything about AI?

I smell a billion dollars of venture capital here ... 

* It seems very likely that the AI algorithms cannot be prevented from hallucinating. 

Illinois city hands out $25K cash payments to 44 Black residents through reparations program [More] Don’t worry. The cucks are fine with it. This is what commu… uh… Democrats have in mind for the rest of the country whenever they feel they have the votes to get away with it.

The post Speaking of Racists… first appeared on The War on Guns.

NSSF Touts Bill Banning Unfair Gun Taxes [More] Anyone care to name a fair one? NSSF: Isn’t that the group that “celebrates firearm and ammunition manufacturers topping $17 billion in excise tax contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund since its inception in 1937″? I’m not a hunter. If I ever decide to, I’ll pay … Continue reading "Fair Share?"

The post Fair Share? first appeared on The War on Guns.

AMA’s medical education infused with political ideology, Do No Harm says [More] You don’t say. [Via Michael G]

The post Thank You, Captain Obvious first appeared on The War on Guns.

Democrats are backtracking on their own demand that ICE agents wear body cameras. They’re suddenly concerned that those cameras will be used to track and surveil anti-ICE protesters, which seems like an admission that they know those people are their base voters. [More] ICE ought to share the “best of” on YouTube. [Via Michael G]

The post Liar’s Remorse first appeared on The War on Guns.

 I've run a bunch of chainsaws since my teens.  McCullough, Poulan, Husky, Stihl, Echo, you name it, I've run it.  As I approach my dotage, I am loathe to crank a gas chainsaw. I'm no longer felling timber or cutting firewood, I'm pruning trash trees on my little acre.

Battery technology has improved over the past decade, and the era of plug-it-in-the-wall power tools is about over..  I have gone almost solely to batter operated tools, and I use the yellow-black brand..  All my batteries are yellow-black.

Last week, I needed to do some pruning, so I stated looking around.  As it turns out, Amazon sells chainsaws.  Little handy saws that run on batteries and don't need pull ropes.  I did a little research and bought this one.  It's a no-name Chinese knockoff and uses those familiar yellow-black batteries.

The only thing that didn't come in the box was a syringe to put bar oil into the reservoir.  A quick trip to the feed store solved that problem.  This morning I filled it with bar oil, put in a fresh battery and went out to hairlip a little tree that is in the way.  Thirty minutes later, I wondered why I had waited so long to get one. The little tree is on the burn pile, the battery is on the charger and the saw is back it its case.

This little saw is On Time.  It may not last as long as the branded saws, but it proves the concept.

South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill Tuesday that deregulates gun silencers by removing them from the state’s definition of a controlled weapon. [More] And significantly: The bill passed through both chambers of the Legislature without any “no” votes. A spokesperson for Everytown shared the group’s reaction. [Via Jess]

The post Silent Running first appeared on The War on Guns.

“As I lifted the gun to show her I suddenly heard a loud bang. I did not understand what had happened. Lucy immediately fell.” [More] If what happened is what I think happened, he’s not the only one who should be in jail. [Via Steve T]

The post Mystery to Me first appeared on The War on Guns.

New York’s bill proposes requiring all 3D printers sold in the state to include “blocking technology” software that scans every design file for firearm blueprints and prevents printing of flagged gun parts. [More] Same observation I made here… [Via WiscoDave]

The post Stopping the Signal first appeared on The War on Guns.

For the first time in California history, this proposal would require mandatory state-approved training, including live-fire shooting and at least eight hours of instruction, just to BUY a firearm — not carry it, not use it, but to own it. [Watch] And challenges by gun owners who must scrape together legal costs will go on … Continue reading "Just Like the Founders Intended"

The post Just Like the Founders Intended first appeared on The War on Guns.

I see a lot of trolls hating on this guy, which makes me want to know more about him. [Via Jess]

The post Plain Speaking in Politics first appeared on The War on Guns.

 It was widely claimed that he was going to wear a dress.  I asked Grok:

The idea that Bad Bunny was going to wear a dress during his Super Bowl halftime show (at Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026) originated as a rumor circulating online in late January 2026, shortly after his selection as the headliner was confirmed.

Reports from outlets like Radar Online (cited in various articles) claimed anonymous sources close to his team—including a stylist and a "pal"—said he planned to wear a dress as a bold statement honoring queer/LGBTQ+ icons from Puerto Rico or drag culture, with quotes like "He is 100 percent going to wear a dress. A political thunderbolt disguised as couture" and "The dress is already being sewn." This fueled speculation and backlash, particularly among conservative circles on social media, where it sparked boycott calls and tied into broader culture-war complaints about the performance.

The rumor gained traction through viral posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), including amplified claims that Bad Bunny himself said things like "I'm wearing the dress, if that bothers you… don’t watch." Some posts shared fabricated or satirical images (e.g., AI-generated ones from accounts like Qbanguy on Facebook showing him in a dress in provocative scenarios, later debunked by Snopes)....

The rumor appears to have stemmed from Bad Bunny's well-documented history of gender-fluid fashion (e.g., wearing skirts, dresses, or non-traditional outfits in videos, red carpets, and performances), combined with speculation about a provocative halftime statement amid his cultural significance as the first primarily Spanish-language headliner. It spread rapidly in politically polarized online spaces but was never confirmed by Bad Bunny or his team.

 1. Someone with Bad Bunny floated this as a way to get publicity. (There is no such thing as bad publicity; people are talking about you.) Someone misunderstand an overheard conversation and filled it in based on previous clothing choices. "How will you be dressed?"

2. Someone just made it up. Reporters do that, especially when chasing the Almighty Clicks.

When Trump Officials’ Claims About Shootings Unravel in Court [More] I have pretty much the same concerns expressed here. Don’t make excuses for, and go after the bad. By the same token, motives matter, especially where “The newsraper of record” is involved. It’s not ad hominem, it’s experience. What the DSM fails to understand is … Continue reading "We’re the Only Ones Triggering Enough"

The post We’re the Only Ones Triggering Enough first appeared on The War on Guns.

At least two dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020, and their documented wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse, corruption and other abuses of authority, a review by The Associated Press found. [More] By all means, expose and pursue criminality and corruption everywhere it … Continue reading "We’re the Only Ones Criminal Enough?"

The post We’re the Only Ones Criminal Enough? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Murkowski breaks with GOP on voter ID… [More] Who else is sick of this enemy in the gates? So, when’s Trump going to savage her with the same sorehead viciousness he goes after Thomas Massie with?

The post Putting the ‘Cow’ in ‘Murkowski’ first appeared on The War on Guns.

The post Bannerman, the Father of Gun Collecting: Tales from the Golden Age of Surplus first appeared on Forgotten Weapons.

The restriction encompasses a 10-mile area around El Paso, and includes the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, N.M., but does not apply to aircraft flying above 18,000 feet, the F.A.A. notices said. They did not detail the security reasons that prompted the restriction.

The airport issued a travel advisory on social media saying that all flights to and from the airport had been grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. It told travelers to contact their airlines for the latest flight information.

More Here

Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said that Zantowsky, "who was showing signs of intoxication" at the time of the shooting, had "brandished a firearm and pointed it at his son and other members of the family, including an eight-year-old child."

Gallagher stated that Zantowsky's son fired his own weapon once, striking him.

More Here

On February 11th, 1812, Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a redistricting bill. This was the origin of the word “Gerrymander”. — February 11, 2016: Confirmation of gravitational wave theory (through the observed collision of two black holes) announced by physicists from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is …

The post Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 11, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

In late 1929, when the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began, the population of the United States was around 121.7 million people. All through the Great Depression, it was unheard of to leave roadkill on the side of the road left to rot. With high unemployment,  the hunting pressure was heavy. Small game, like rabbits and squirrels, nearly went extinct in large parts of the United States from being over-hunted, to feed desperate families. Today, in 2026, the estimated population of the US is 348.3 million. If animals were being hunted to near extinction when the population was …

The post Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 1, by Lodge Pole appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader M.B. mentioned this Stars & Stripes article: Navy pilot who shot down four Soviet fighter jets during Korean War to receive Medal of Honor. Royce Williams will celebrate his 101st birthday on April 4th, 2026. Here is an excerpt: “On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams was piloting an F9F-5 Panther when he …

The post SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

“Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.”- Samuel Johnson

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

 I actually think existing scrap steel supplies will be adequate but it is always good to know how to make your own iron.

This has become the preferred narrative for people who can't find evidence that Trump was involved. And private citizen Donald Trump was supposed to do what? Go make a citizen's arrest? 2/9/26 Miami Herald:

President Donald Trump has repeatedly maintained that he had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes. But in July 2006, just as Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal sex charge became public, Trump called then-Palm Beach police chief Michael Reiter to tell him that Epstein’s activities with teenaged girls were well known in both New York and Palm Beach.

“Thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this,” Trump told Reiter, according to a 2019 FBI interview with Reiter contained in the Justice Department’s Epstein case files. The interview, conducted in October 2019 and not previously reported, has shed new light on Trump’s involvement in the early stages of the 2006 Jeffrey Epstein investigation in Palm Beach, Florida. It also raises questions about how much Trump knew about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes. Reiter told FBI agents that Trump revealed that Epstein’s associate, Maxwell, was Epstein’s “operative,” and that Trump said “she is evil and to focus on her,” according to the report. Trump told Reiter that “he was around Epstein once when teenagers were present and Trump ‘got the hell out of there,’” the report said. Trump also told Reiter that he threw Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club.

 I'm out in the shop right now, with no heat on.  It's the middle of February and unseasonably warm.  The weather-weenies are predicting that the temps will be in the mid-70s this weekend.

The weather is teasing us.  Winter isn't over yet. It's not yet time to put away the propane heaters.

Belle and I are going to make a run to Sam's Club in a bit.  We need entertaining supplies, like paper plates and plastic flatware.  Later today, if Amazon cooperates, I'll be working on a project that should increase the comfort in the shop.

In short, it's just a standard Tuesday around here.

From Left to Right Governor Pillen of Nebraska, Governor Gordon of Wyoming, Governor Lombardo of Nevada, Governor Sanders of Arkansas, Governor Rhoden of South Dakota, Governor Little of Idaho, and Governor  Gianforte of Montana. 

At the Governors' Forum during the 2026 SHOT Show, the eight governors present answered questions about how the could counter attacks against rights protected by the Second Amendment and against the firearms and associated industry. After the introduction by NSSF Larry Keane and remarks by White House Counsel David Warrington, the moderator, Shermichael Singleton, directed questions to the governors.

Nevada Governor Lombardo was asked about the Cyberattack which paralysed Nevada  gun store sales for more than two weeks. Governor Lombardo gave a detailed explanation. It was the internal state systems which were hacked. No ransom was paid. The lesson learned was: Do not silo all systems in one domain.

Governor Sanders of Arkansas praised the firearms and ammunition industry and mentioned her sons love of hunting and fishing vs staring at screens. She stated hunting and fishing are not the most important thing. Governor Sanders said:

If you do not have the right to bear arms, then all of the rights you enjoy can easily be taken away.

Governor Rhoden of South Dakota mentioned the passage of a bill last year to disallow the coding of firearms on credit card purchases and his support for deregulation of silencers. Governor Rhoden said:

Its the Left who, by any means possible, want to eliminate our Second Amendment rights. 

Governor Gianforte of Montana talked of his program to convince firearms and ammunition manufacturers to move from Colorado to Montana. From the Governor:

So I personally cold called all the major manufacturers in Colorado, and my message was simple: Do you want to move back to America?

Wyoming Governor Gordon spoke about the purpose of the commerce clause in the United State Constitution is to prevent individual states from impeding commerce between the states. This should apply to the firearms industry. From Governor Gordon:

 "That's one of the very few things the federal government is supposed to do is to make sure that  Arkansas can't cut off Wyoming.Not that you would..." (speaking to Governor Sanders of Arkansas)

Governor Pillen of Nebraska was asked about the unicameral legislative system in Nebraska. Governor Pillen spoke of how important it was to do the right thing instead of what was required to be re-elected. He spoke of the importance of reducing regulation:

 "We have to keep getting government out of our hair."  "I have not met a Nebraskan yet who wants to be told what to do."

Governor Little of Idaho talked about the need to educate a labor force for the recreational industry in rural Idaho.

"You don't over tax them, you don't over regulate them, if you give them the labor force they need, they will thrive." 

The moderator, Shermichael Singleton, did an excellent job of controlling the forum. The governors were all from Red (Republican) states. The forum was limited to an hour. The governors could have each taken up the whole hour, so distributing time among them was an important job.

There was friendly banter among the governors about who had the best business climate, the best hunting, the best parties and the best bourbon. A major theme of the forum was the necessity of limiting federal power and using state power to counter the attack on rights protected by the Second Amendment. As expected, there was little disagreement on the necessity of doing so.

Governor Gianforte of Montana reminded everyone to remember there have been difficult times in the United State before, and we have managed to keep the Republic. He used the term "chronological snobbery". Maintaining the Republic has always been a difficult task. From the Governor:

The availability of social media and the insincerity of our main stream media has amplified the divisions that exist between us. For my part I try not to exacerbate those differences and focus on those things we have in common. 

Governor  Rhoden of South Dakota said they are looking to find ways to roll back regulations by the federal government, and the current administration offers a window of opportunity to do so.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

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"The investigation revealed that two unidentified Black males wearing ski masks broke into the apartment," authorities stated via a press release. "The owner, fearing for her life, fired a weapon striking at least one suspect who had entered the apartment. The suspect succumbed to his injuries."

Brown said authorities identified the deceased suspect as 15-year-old Kaden Young.

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On February 10th, 1676, in King Philip’s War: A force of 1,500 Wampanoag, Nipmuc, and Narragansett Indians killed more than 30 men and destroyed buildings in Lancaster, Massachusetts. King Philip’s War, sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom’s War, Pometacomet’s Rebellion, or Metacom’s Rebellion, was fought from 1675 to 1678. Even the leftist/apologist Wikipedia concedes: “King Philip’s War was the last-ditch effort by Native tribes to expel the colonists from New England. Instead, it turned out to be the beginning of the development of an independent American identity. The New England colonists faced their enemies without support from any European …

The post Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 10, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

This will sound self-contradictory, but it is not: the Traditions Firearms Nitrobolt Rifle is a bolt-action muzzle-loader. The primer and the powder charge cartridge are loaded through the breech via bolt action. The bullet is loaded through the muzzle with a ramrod. This hybrid action offers the powder-charge-consistency and weather-resistance of a breechloading rifle while being legal to use during muzzleloading season in 29 states at the time of this writing. The Nitrobolt uses Federal Premium FireStick polymer encapsulated powder charges. The FireStick charges use Hodgdon Triple Eight powder. Triple Eight burns more cleanly than black powder or other black …

The post Traditions Nitrobolt Rifle, by Thomas Christianson appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

This weekly column features media from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. Exploring Dworshak Dam: the biggest dam you’ve probably never heard of. Video: The Owyhees You’ve Never Seen Before.  JWR’s Comments: Part of this video shows the ghost town of Silver City, Idaho. My great-great uncle, Joseph Rawles, shot and killed a man named Sim Oldham in a gunfight there, circa 1865. Over at our friend Patrice’s blog: Record Low Snowpack. Most of Wyoming is on track to have its …

The post SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

“My family’s lineage, we are warriors. The McGregor clan, we are warriors all through. We are famous all through the world for our fighting capabilities of all generations. So I have no doubt that’s stood to me and that led me down this path and gave me what I have.” – Conor McGregor

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

 2/9/26 WDRB:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Jefferson County judge has sentenced a convicted felon to 30 years in prison, declining to follow a jury’s recommendation of 65 years in a case involving robbery, kidnapping, sodomy and sexual abuse.

Christopher Thompson, 24, was sentenced on Feb. 2 after a December conviction tied to a 2023 attack in which prosecutors said he abducted a woman, robbed her and sodomized her twice.

Court documents say Thompson kidnapped the woman in her own vehicle and forced her to perform oral sex on him in a school parking lot. Then, he drove her to an ATM, robbed the woman, drove back to the school lot and sodomized her at gunpoint again.

Thompson's sentencing hearing was marked by repeated disruptions, profanity and direct insults toward Judge Tracy Davis.

“Before we even get appearances, Mr. Thompson, I’m going to need you to be respectful,” Davis said.

“I ain’t doing nothing. Eat my d**k,” Thompson responded.

Moments later, the exchange escalated.

“It’s fine. Okay? It’s fine,” Davis said.

“If I could spit on you, I would,” Thompson replied.

“At the end of the day, I’m the one with the pen,” Davis said.

“I don’t care,” Thompson said.

Despite the continued outbursts, the court proceeded with sentencing. Prosecutors urged Davis to impose the jury’s recommended 65-year sentence.

“I don’t have sympathy for nobody. I don’t have sympathy for you, the victim, the victim’s family, I don’t care. Boo hoo,” Thompson said during the hearing.

Davis ultimately imposed a 30-year sentence, citing Thompson’s age and the possibility of rehabilitation — even as Thompson continued interrupting.

“I don’t care. I don’t care,” Thompson said.

“Unfortunately he fell through the cracks and ended up in this court as an 18 or 19-year-old,” Davis said. “This court does not believe Mr. Thompson, if given the resources that he can get while incarcerated, is beyond being rehabilitated.”

One of the longstanding hopes of having women on juries and the bench was treating rape as a serious crime. The judge's comments make it clear that she sees Thompson as a victim because he is black. Say no to racism.

By Dave Workman In a narrow 22-17 vote Saturday, the Democrat-controlled New Mexico State Senate passed Senate Bill 17, a measure described by the National Rifle Association as a “sweeping gun control bill” which would place new restrictions on firearms dealers, prohibit ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds and ban “gas-operated” semi-auto firearms. The […]

The post New Mexico Senate Passes Restrictive Gun Control Measure; SB17 To House appeared first on Liberty Park Press.

 This guy is reading tea leaves and it's interesting.  Watching military air traffic across the US and world.

Signals intelligence comes in many forms, and these days, air flight data can tell you a lot about what is coming. Or, he could b all wrong.