Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) announced this week that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will testify on Feb. 2 before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about his role in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ now-infamous “Operation Fast and Furious.”

Issa, who is chairman of the House committee, and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have led an ongoing investigation into the role of Holder and the Department of Justice in the operation.

Rumor Alert: Veterans’ Health and “Sporting Purposes” Among the thousands of questions NRA-ILA answers every month by email, phone and letter are scores that begin “This guy told me he heard …” Unfortunately, all too often this is the telltale sign of one of the rampant rumors that circulate around campfires or gun store counters, and especially on the Internet. Three of the most recent top rumors involve veterans’ gun rights, the status of the “sporting purposes” test for firearms importation, and new restrictions on gun shows.

Record NICS Checks in 2011: In January, the FBI reported that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) performed a record number of background checks in 2011. Over 99 percent of NICS checks are firearm-related.

Obama to Congress: I’ll Decide What’s Constitutional: This week, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox wrote a comprehensive op-ed for the Daily Caller regarding President Obama abusing executive privilege and seeking new ways to vilify gun owners and further his anti-gun agenda.

To read the piece, please click here.

Get Involved In This Year’s Elections: NRA, along with America’s gun owners and Second Amendment supporters, have long been anticipating the 2012 elections—discussing, planning, preparing to ensure that our nation heads in the right direction of protecting freedom and our Second Amendment rights. Now is the time to put those plans into action, and with the help of the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, we are confident in victory for 2012!

GRASSROOTS NEWS MINUTE VIDEO: To view this week’s “Grassroots News Minute” video, please click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYkRmi2Tj ESTATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)

For additional information, please click on the links provided.

NEVADA: Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association Hosting Fourth Annual CCW Forum
The Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association will be hosting its annual Concealed Carry Weapons forum in Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Grant Sawyer Government Building (room 4401) located on 555 East Washington Avenue in Las Vegas.  Your participation is key to the continued success of Nevada’s Right-to-Carry process, so please attend this important forum.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Pro-Gun Legislation Passes in State House
Despite fierce opposition from Governor John Lynch, House Bill 334 and House Bill 536 passed in the state House of Representatives and will now go to the state Senate for consideration. HB 334 would strengthen current statewide firearms preemption by further prohibiting local governments or state agencies from enacting ordinances or regulations for the use of firearms. HB 536 would repeal the existing law that requires a person to have a concealed firearm license in order to carry concealed.

NEW MEXICO: Pro-Second Amendment Companion Bill Pre-Filed for Short Session!Recently, state Senator Bill Payne (R-ABQ) pre-filed Senate Bill 26, the Senate companion measure to House Bill 32, which was introduced in December by state Representative Bill Rehm (R-ABQ) and previously reported here.  This legislation would repeal Section 30-7-9 of the New Mexico Criminal Code, which limits the purchase of rifles and shotguns by New Mexico residents to their home state and contiguous states.

ATAC TV FIREARMS, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, LENNY BOLTON, JIM FULLER, GLENN JUSTICE, JEFF HALL, NRA, HANDGUNS, RIFLES,

About Jeff Hall

ATAC TV Law Enforcement & Military Channels’ Jeff Hall

Owner and lead instructor Jeff Hall is a retired lieutenant from the Alaska State Troopers, with over 25 years of combined military and law enforcement experience. While a Trooper, Jeff spent nineteen years on the pistol team and twelve on the S.W.A.T. team; he has used all of the techniques taught by Force Options in combat and also on ATAC TV LEO/Military Channel
Jeff Hall is one of the only US police officers to win an air-to-ground firefight against an armed criminal. This occurred on 5/19/84 at Manley Hot Springs, Alaska; it was recently featured on the History Channel’s Sniper: Deadliest Missions.
Helo-Gunners was founded by two air-to-ground combat survivors, Jeff Hall and Chris Hayes. All Helo-Gunner Instructors are LE and/or military combat veterans.
Based on actual police air-to-ground combat, aerial gunnery is designed for the police or military group using helicopters for patrol, insertion, or interdiction. This class teaches the operator to effectively engage targets from a moving helicopter. This class is a must for any organization that puts armed officers into helicopters!

Jeff is a Handgun Combat Master and holds black belts in five arts, ranging from 3rd through 10th Dan. He is an NRA certified instructor in handgun, shotgun, submachine gun, carbine, and precision rifle; an NRA Adjunct Staff Instructor; and certified Police Master Instructor. All Force Options instructors are similarly qualified.
Jeff is currently training for the Four Weapon Combat Master test, and to become the second ever to pass the Handgun Combat Master test with a revolver.
In 2005 Jeff was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and in 2007 into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He was named Grandmaster, promoted to 10th dan, and named “soke”, or founder, of the art of Hojutsu, the Art of Shooting.

Jeff has wrote many articles for magazines such as; S.W.A.T. Magazine, Police One, Gun Buyer’s Annual, Tactical Weapons, Black Belt. Additionally many firearm training manuals over the years.

As every agency has a different or slightly modified SOP to meet their needs and requirements for the area that they are deployed, as to rope access, the Tactical EXO system is a good option to meet almost every need. Quite frequently we at ATAC TV LEO/MIL Channel are asked to review and comment on equipment that is new in the industry. Although the Tactical EXO is not new to the field of rope access, it has recently been discovered and used by some military and law enforcement special ops. It is a self-contained high angle access system that comes in a compact pack which attaches to most harnesses and can be deployed within seconds. It can be used for fall protection as you lean over the edge of a building or as a descending system down the side. It comes with a 7.5mm abrasion and high heat resistant rope that can be ordered in 50 or 75 ft lengths. The self-breaking system allows for a smooth and rapid descent but if needed, allows a quick lockup so that you can deploy your weapon and establish a good shooting platform with both hands if needed. With a large self-locking lobster type carabineer that is used to attach to the anchor and getting over the edge can be done quickly and smooth. With some practice it can be operated with one hand, which frees up the other to deploy your weapon if need to engage a threat.

Once it has been decided that going over the edge is necessary for either information gathering or engagement. Choice of anchor becomes the next important decision to be made, at ATAC TV LEO/MIL Channel we show you how improvised anchors and attachments can easily be accomplished. The Tactical EXO takes everything else that you will need and put it into on convenient compact bag that attaches to your harness. The bag contains a pre-threaded set up system that all you need to do is hook to an anchor and go. Its has 2 large lobster carabineers that attach to your harness and anchor are easy it use and auto lock even when exposed to the elements such as dirt and mud. The 7.5mmTecknora rope has been used in search and rescue for many years because of its ability to resist heat up to 900 degrees and with a breaking strength of over 5000lbs. The descending device specific to the EXO is similar to the GRIGRI, which is one that has a proven history and still used by many agencies today.

By no means does or is this Blog designed to direct you to a new piece of gear and expect one to purchase and introduce it into your bag of tools without having professional training in all aspects of that gear. Although, the Petzl Tactical EXO has technical information that comes with it, there is far more information and use time that is required before one should introduce and use the equipment on a mission. At ATAC TV LEO/MIL Channel, we break down all aspects of the system and its use into training that your agency can use as a reference so you can create and deploy an SOP that works for your agency and environment under most situations as needed in your area or needs. Look to ATAC TV Survival Channel for reviews and instructional programs on the newest equipment available, and is for LEO and Military personnel ONLY. Follow the link to view our programs.

PETZL

ATAC TV LEO/MIL Channel

If you plan a day hike or anytime you step into the backcountry, you should be carrying the Ten Essentials in your survival pack. These items can make the difference between life and death, comfort and misery, or piece of mind as you are ready for almost any situation that can arise. ATAC TV Survival recommends all of these items, plus a firearm and ammunition in your survival gear. This list is the bare necessities that must be available for emergencies. The ATAC TV Staff uses a six “P” motto: Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

Planning ahead and gathering a small list of survival items will prevent needing something, and not having it when you really, really need it. The purpose of creating a list and assembling the survival gear you might need will give you the ability to respond positively to an emergency or accident and/or safely spend a night-or-more outdoors in the unforgiving environment, whatever the situation might bring. Having the proper equipment is a good habit to acquire. Yes, on a routine trip you may use only a few of these items. Yet you’ll probably never fully appreciate the value of the Ten Essentials until you really need one of them. Here is the basic list:

1. Navigation - map, compass, GPS, etc.
2. Sun protection – sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, etc.
3. Insulation – extra clothing, layering, rain gear, etc.
4. Illumination – flashlight, headlamp, candles, batteries, etc.
5. First-aid supplies – bandages, insect repellant, pain relievers, etc.
6. Fire – waterproof matches, spark devices, tinder, lighter, etc.
7. Repair kit/tools – pliers, hand tools, knife, para cord, tape, etc.
8. Nutrition – food, energy bars, nuts, etc.
9. Hydration – extra water, filtration device, collapsible container, etc.
10. Emergency shelter – wind protection, small tarp, etc.

The original Ten Essentials list was generated and published in the 1930’s by “The Mountaineers”, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers. In 2003, the group updated it’s approach to reflect changes and advancement in gear for the list and most currently published this reference material in “The Mountaineers Books, 2010”, now in its eighth edition. The Ten Essentials will form the core of your home, car or backpacking emergency-preparedness survival kit that should be kept close at hand, and in each of these locations.

Each person must evaluate the list, pick the products and place value on different manufacturer to determine what you should carry for survival gear. Test the equipment to make sure it will work for the intended purpose before betting your life on that product, and gain the experience of using the it in a controlled environment before the emergency situation.

Some of the items on this list may seem to be “over-kill” for a day walk or hike. You may occasionally use a few of these items, but carrying all the Ten Essentials on every backcountry excursion, or in your car on a daily basis is a very smart move. These items serve as the antidote to the unexpected emergencies and situations you may encounter. Always expect the unexpected, and your preparation will pay big dividends. This prior planning is all about safety and peace of mind. This gear could potentially save your life and the lives of your family and friends. Check out the other ATAC TV Survival instructional programs for on-line instruction and ideas of how to make your life safer and more enjoyable during the difficult times. Today is the best time to start your planning for unpredictable situations.

Sloper Holds used in Rock Climbing
Slopers are larger rocks that are polished, worn and do not areas that have a grip. Rocks without crevasses or angles to grab but just the opposite, a smooth surface. So it is all palm, hand, forearm and unique ways that your hand must have surface area covered. Also Sean Rigo and Glenn Justice point out these are not resting holds but holds you need friction and surface area to maintain your grip.

Watch the Video on Sloper Holds Here on ATAC TV

In this indoor rock climbing program learn what hand stacking or hand matching means. Hand matching is bringing both hands to the same rock, sometimes stacking your hands. Glenn Justice & Sean Rigo demonstrate how to get both of your hands on a bomber hold. Sean then demos on a Sloper Hold then moves over to a smaller rock and stacks his hands. Sometimes these types of holds may be your only choice.

Rock Climbing Hand Stacking or Matching Program on ATAC TV

This is part two of a three part improvised webbing harness is the safety system that is referred to as the Swami. Finding the center point of the webbing and take the strands and wrapping your mid section to create the Swami. If you do not know how to tie the water knot, just go back to that program and watch it.

In the third part of the ATAC TV Survival Program, Glenn Justice & Sean Rigo show you how to make the Chest Harness. Starts tomorrow!

Watch the Free Video:  Webbing Harness Part Two, Tying the Swami

The first of a three part program which demonstrate how to create an improvised harness out of webbing.  All you need is three pieces of webbing to create a seat, swami and chest. The first part of this program is the seat, which holds your weight. Glenn Justice and Sean Rigo show you how to create this. This is a harness that is made out of webbing without any fancy gear.  Make sure to follow this program up with the Swami, part two of the three part system.

Watch video here on ATAC TV Survival Channel:  Webbing Harness Part One, Tying the Seat

Tom Clarke and Glenn Justice discuss when a high anchor is point appropriately used in rappelling. High medium and low attachments or anchor points also have special considerations that are pointed out in this rappelling program. Why and when to use medium anchor points and also low points of attachments. Each level of anchor points have their uses for that specific rappel.

Check out the program on ATAC TV Survival & Outdoor Channel by clicking here: Rappelling with Low, Medium and High Anchors Points