Month: September 2022

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Well, this clearly didn’t go as planned. It appears that this Chicago native thinks every state disarms innocent civilians and empowers criminals. Not to mention, has soft on crime policies. However, it didn’t take long for the man to learn that you can’t just walk into a Florida convenience store with a shotgun. You’re not in Chicago anymore, Toto.

Chicago Man with a Shotgun in a Florida Store Learns About Armed Civilians

At approximately 10:25 PM, the man entered the store carrying a shotgun, attempting to conceal it with his body. The suspect slowly and nonchalantly walked back and forth in front of the counter, apparently waiting for a clerk. However, the clerk had a surprise of his own.

It seems the employee watched the suspect arm himself before entering the store and went into the back to get his personal firearm. Of course, when the clerk returned with his gun, things changed. Most likely, because the suspect learned that he was no longer in Chicago and people in Florida are armed.

It was at this point that a conversation ensued between the two:

“I see you, bro. I don’t mean no harm; I’m just not from around here,” the suspect states.

Not shaken, the clerk asks, “What do you got in your hand, bro?”

“I got a big a** Motherf**king gun,” the suspect replies, showing his shotgun. He continued, “But I’m not from around here, is what I’m saying. I’m from Chicago, bro, and I don’t know [undecipherable] outside.”

I’m not sure if he was trying to make the case that he is carrying it for protection because he’s scared or what. It was at this point that he asked the clerk what he had, and the clerk notified him it was a .45 and then told him to leave.

According to a Facebook release from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, “Words seem to fail you when your felony attempt is thwarted by lawful and righteous force.”

Fortunately, all’s well that ends well, and the suspect sulked away, not a penny richer.

Chalk up another win for a good guy with a gun.

Unfortunately for the suspect, though, this was not over.

You’re Not in Chicago Anymore; You’re Under Arrest

Along with the hard lesson that the people of Florida are armed, the suspect also learned that Florida is not soft on crime.

The Facebook post from the County Sheriff goes on to say the suspect “was located and arrested on 9/15/22 in Santa Rosa County. He was charged with openly carrying a prohibited weapon and attempted robbery with a firearm. The Benelli shotgun used in this robbery attempt was also recovered.”

The Sheriff also had a final thought for the suspect, “You’re not in Chicago anymore; you’re under arrest.”

Fortunately for this clerk, this wasn’t Chicago, where he would be unarmed, and the suspect would face little consequence. Or this might have gone a whole different way.

Lesson learned: guns save lives on a regular basis, and not every incident requires shots fired to do so.
Keep Reading […]

Originally created by Guido van Rossum in 1991, Python is a versatile programming language used by makers on the Raspberry Pi, system administrators in the data center, and even by Industrial Light and Magic to bring our movies to life.Python is a great language to learn, and thanks to the Raspberry Pi for the past decade there have been countless tutorials covering the gamut of programming projects.Whether you are a Python veteran, a “pythonista” or a complete newcomer to the language, installing Python on Windows is an easy task. In this how to we will walk you through installing Python 3 on Windows and show two editors, one for beginners and the other for intermediate and advanced users, and how you can get coding with this fantastic language.Installing Python 3 on Windows 10 and 11The installation process for Python 3 on Windows is simple, with only a couple of extra steps that we have to follow. These steps enable us to access Python from anywhere on our system and install software using its built-in package manager. Installing Python in this manner enables the creation of projects that work with the operating system, for example notifications and automated system tasks.1. Open a browser to the Python website and download the Windows installer.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Double click on the downloaded file and install Python for all users, and ensure that Python is added to your path. Click on Install now to begin. Adding Python to the path will enable us to use the Python interpreter from any part of the filesystem.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. After the installation is complete, click Disable path length limit and then Close. Disabling the path length limit means we can use more than 260 characters in a file path.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Click Close to end the installation.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)Running Python in Windows1. Open a Command Prompt and type “python” then press Enter.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Create a short Python script that uses a for loop to print a message to the Python shell ten times. Press space four times to indent the second line, otherwise Python will produce an error. Press Enter to run the code.for i in range(10):
print(“Python in the command prompt”)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)Python comes with its own package manager, pip, that is used to install, update and remove modules of pre-written Python code. These modules provide us with extra functionality. To demonstrate we will use pip to install the pyjokes module, a collection of programmer jokes.1. Open a Command Prompt and use pip to install pyjokes then press Enter.pip install pyjokes(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Open the Python interpreter.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. Import the pyjokes module and then print a joke from the module. In our case, we got a “hip hip hurray” take on an array containing two hips.import pyjokes
print(pyjokes.get_joke())(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. More modules can be found using the PyPi Package Index.Beginning Python With MuIf you have never written a line of Python code, then Mu is for you. Created by Nicholas Tollervey, Mu is designed with beginners in mind. The simple interface means we can focus on our code. But don’t underestimate Mu as under the hood we have tools to validate our code and to work with a diverse range of boards such as Raspberry Pi Pico, Adafruit CircuitPython and many MicroPython boards, including those from Lego.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)1. Open a browser to the Mu website and download the Windows installer.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Go to the Downloads folder and double click the Mu file to begin installation.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. Accept the license agreement and click Install. The install process will take a few moments to complete.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Click on Launch Mu Editor and then click Finish. This will close the installer and start Mu.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Wait for Mu to start. Mu’s first launch can take some time to complete, subsequent boots will be much faster.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)The Mu Editor InterfaceMu was designed with beginners in mind and this is reflected in the user interface. It is uncluttered and easy to understand.The user interface is broken down into three areas.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The menu bar. Large icons and clear text identify the function of each button. We can create, save and load files. We can also run and stop our code. The Python Shell (REPL, Read, Eval, Print, Loop) is available to test ideas. A plotter can be used to visualize data via a graph. We can zoom in and out of the code, useful when presenting to large groups. A builtin checker and tidy application will check and format your code using Python style guidelines.
The coding area. Here we write the code for our projects.
The Python shell. It can output the results of our code and it can be used to access the REPL.
We can easily write Python code in Mu. The default is to write Python 3 code, to be run on our machine. This is where the ease of Mu works against it, as there is no means to install Python modules. Modules are libraries of code that can be used to add new features, for example RPi.GPIO and GPIO Zero are modules that enable Python to talk to the Raspberry Pi GPIO.If you are starting out with Python, Mu is an excellent choice to introduce the language.Mu ModesMu has one feature that elevates it above other beginner editors. Mu has a “Mode” button which can be used to write Python, MicroPython and CircuitPython.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Select the Mode from the list. Mu comes with a plethora of modes. We can write Python 3, make games using PyGame Zero or build websites/apps using Flask. Write MicroPython for the Raspberry Pi Pico, micro:bit. ESP, Pyboard and Lego Spike. Or we can use Adafruit’s CircuitPython to create physical computing projects.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)Connecting a Raspberry Pi Pico, MicroPython or CircuitPython board will trigger Mu to ask if we would like to change the mode to match the board. To demonstrate this we’ll write a short project to blink the Pcio’s onboard LED.To follow this part of the how to you will need a Raspberry Pi Pico.1.  With Mu open, connect a Raspberry Pi Pico to your computer.2. Using the pop-up, change the mode for the Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040). (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. The Mu editor is now in RP2040 mode, so click on REPL to open the MicroPython shell (REPL) on the Pico.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. In the editor import two modules, first to enable access to the GPIO, the second to add pauses to the code.import machine
from time import sleep5. Create an object, led and use it to set the onboard LED as an output. For the Raspberry Pi Pico W use the line of code with ‘LED’, for the original Pico use the line of code with 25. The Pico has the LED connected to GPIO 25, but the Pico W does not.Raspberry Pi Pico Wled = machine.Pin(‘LED’, machine.Pin.OUT)Raspberry Pi Picoled = machine.Pin(25, machine.Pin.OUT)6. Create a for loop that iterates 10 times, each time the loop runs it will toggle the LED on / off, print a message to the REPL and sleep for 0.1 seconds.for i in range(10):
led.toggle()
print(“BLINK”)
sleep(0.1)7. Click Save and save the file as blink.py to your computer.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)8. Click Run to start the code on the Pico. The LED on the Pico will blink on and off and the REPL will show the “BLINK” message.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)You know your stuff, and you need a lightweight editor to get your Python code done. Sure you can install Visual Studio Code, PyCharm etc. But if you just need to edit a few project files, Notepad++ is for you. Notepad++ is a Swiss Army Knife of an editor, and it works exceptionally well with Python. Here we will install Notepad++ and set it up to run our Python code at the press of a button.Note that you will need to install the Python 3 interpreter, the steps for which are at the start of this how to.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)1. Open a browser to the Notepad++ website and download the latest Windows installer.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. In the your Downloads folder, double click on the file to start the installer.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. Set your preferred language and click OK.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Select Next.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Select “I Agree”.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. Click Next.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)7. Click Next.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)8. Click Install to begin the process.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)9. Check “Run Notepad++” and click Finish to end the installation and open Notepad++.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)The Notepad++ InterfaceNotepad++ has a more involved user interface than Mu, and this reflects the flexibility of the editor. Notepad++ is much more than a Python editor, we can use it to write PHP, Perl, JSON etc.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Menus. Here we can load projects, save, create macros and install plugins for specific languages.
Editor. The code for our project is created here.
Workspace. If we are working on a large project with multiple project files, we can load the folder as a workspace and have quick access to the files.
Running Python code in Notepad++1. Create a simple Python project that uses a for loop to print a message to the Python shell.for i in range(10):
print(“Writing Python in Notepad++”)2. Save the code as for_loop.py.3. Click on Run > > Run..(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Click on … and navigate to the Python executable file. Select the file and the path will be added to the dialog box. At the end of the path, add -i “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)” to force Notepad++ to open the file. Click Save.Example path to Python
C:UsersLattePandaAppDataLocalProgramsPythonPython310python.exe -i “$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)”(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Create a shortcut called Python3.10 to launch the Python interpreter then click OK. We chose ALT + SHIFT + P as it didn’t conflict with other shortcuts on our system.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. Use your shortcut to run the Python code.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) […]

Taking your first steps into the world of Linux can be a scary proposition. After all, we have a whole new world of terminal commands, desktop environments and applications to learn. Thankfully Linux installation has improved leaps and bounds from the earliest text based installers used in the late 1990s (Debian and Slackware) via graphical installers in the early 2000s (Corel Linux, Mandrake). From the 2010s we have seen better graphical installers providing reassurance as we test out Linux.The first steps into Linux fall under two paths. A single board computer such as the Raspberry Pi. Or more traditionally a dual boot setup, where Windows and Linux are installed to the same machine, often on the same boot drive. Using a custom boot menu, GRUB, we can choose between the two operating systems when we power on our PC.In this how to, we shall learn how to dual boot Linux with Windows, using Ubuntu and Windows 11. The steps are the same with Windows 10 or withCreating a Linux Install USBOur Linux distro is typically downloaded as an ISO image (ISO originally being referred to as CD / DVD sized images) of a live Linux OS that we can test on our machine. To use the ISO with a UEFI / Secure Boot system we need to use Rufus, a popular free utility that writes ISO files to USB Flash drives.Our goal is to create a bootable USB stick containing our chosen Linux OS. A minimum capacity of 8GB is recommended for your USB drive.For this project you will needComputer running Windows 10 / 11 (We tested with Windows 11)USB Flash drive, 8GB or largerLinux distro (we chose Ubuntu)1. Download and install Rufus for your operating system.2. Insert a USB drive into your machine and open Rufus.3. Select your USB drive using Device, and then click SELECT and select the Linux OS that you wish to install. In our case it was Ubuntu 22.04.1.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Select the GPT partition scheme and click START to write the OS to the USB drive. GPT is the latest partition scheme and necessary for installing Ubuntu on a UEFI system. It is gradually replacing MBR.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. When prompted select “Write in ISO image mode” and click OK.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. Read and understand the prompts to ensure that Linux OS will be written to the correct drive. There is no going back should you make a mistake.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)7. Click CLOSE to exit Rufus and remove the USB drive from the machine.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)How to Install Linux for Dual BootThe Linux installer has come a long way. Gone are the old days of scary user interfaces and in their place are inviting and easy to use installers that guide you through the process. We’re going to use the Ubuntu 22.04.1 installer to split our 256GB NVMe drive in half. Giving Windows and Ubuntu enough space for a basic dual boot install. Then we will follow a typical Ubuntu installation.1. Insert the USB drive into your computer and boot from it. Each computer is a little different, Some will offer a function key to select a boot device, some need to be selected from the BIOS.2. From the GRUB menu select “Try or Install Ubuntu” (or your Linux OS of choice) and press Enter . The GRUB menu is a custom boot menu used on Linux devices. It can also be customized to show a background image. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. When prompted, click Try Ubuntu to load the OS into RAM as a “Live Distro”. Live Distros give us enough of the operating system to test on our machine without making any changes to the system. They are also useful as recovery devices to boot broken computers.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Test your hardware to make sure that everything you need is working. Check audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc before moving onwards.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Double click on the Install icon to launch the installer application.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. Select your language and click Continue.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)7. Select your preferred keyboard layout and click Continue.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)8. Select a Normal Installation and optionally install third-party software, then click Continue. Third-party software includes drivers and applications which may not match the permissive license used by your Linux distro. If you would like to know more, check the website of your chosen Linux OS.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)9. Select “Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager” and click Continue. Any other option will either delete the entire contents of the drive, or require manual configuration, so take great care.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)10. Ensure that the correct drive has been selected, and slide the center slider to adjust how much space each OS will have.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)11. Click Continue to write the changes to the disk. Check that everything is correct before moving onwards. Changes made now cannot be easily remedied.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)12. Click Continue when asked if you are sure.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)13. Set your location and click Continue.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)14. Set up your user account, with your real name, computer name, username and provide a strong password. Click Continue when ready.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)The installation will take a few minutes to complete.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)15. Click on Restart Now to reboot your computer.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)16. Remove the USB drive and press Enter when prompted.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)First Linux Dual Boot(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)The first boot of a Linux dual boot system requires a little fine tuning in our BIOS. We need to tell the system to boot from our Linux install, which will trigger the GRUB menu to load. From there we can select an OS to boot from. Each BIOS is a little different, so use these steps as a general guide and refer to the manual for your motherboard for more specific information.1. Open your BIOS menu. See our story on how to enter your BIOS if you don’t know how to do this already.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Select the Boot menu.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. Select UEFI NVMe Drive BBS Priorities.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Set Boot Option 1 to be the Linux install.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Check that the change has been made, then save and exit the BIOS.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. The system will now boot to GRUB, choose your Linux OS and press Enter. If we leave GRUB for 10 seconds, it will choose the default option, typically Linux.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)7. Boot to the Linux desktop and check that everything is correct.8. Reboot to GRUB and select Windows to check that everything is working. […]

Night has fallen and we have the technology to see in the dark. Last Friday we took a look at the French-made Thales LUCIE low profile night vision goggle. This week we take a look at another piece of military hardware. The SAFRAN JIM LR is a cooled thermal biocular that has a built-in SWIR laser range finder and IR pointer. It also has a built-in GPS. Let’s take a look at this cool thermal device, pun intended.
Thermal @TFB

JIM LR Bioculars
The JIM LR can be found under a couple different company names: Safran, Sagem, and Vectronix. In the US, the unit is called the LRTV (Long Range Thermal Video). JIM LR is an acronym in French, Jumelle Infrarouge Multifonction-Long Range. Which translates to Multifunction Infrared Binocular. However, the JIM LR is not a true binocular. It is a biocular. It only has a single image that is duplicated into both eyes like the Thales LUCIE or a PVS-7. If it was truly binocular, then it would need two distinct thermal images and when you look through them you would get stereopsis like my dual SKEETIR-L binos. That being said, the JIM LR has a lot of functions beyond just a thermal spotter.
L-R: thermal objective lens, range finder receiver, day video channel sitting above the IR pointer and far right is the laser range finder emitter.
As I mentioned earlier, the JIM LR laser range finder is a SWIR LRF. Like other military laser range finders for dismounted soldiers, this LRF emits in the SWIR wavelength. It operates at 1500 nM. This is far outside the operating range of analog night vision. Even with Photonis that can see up to 1100 nM it cannot see this LRF pulse. Full spectrum CCD sensors can see up to 1400 nM but even the SWIR LRF is out of the band for digital cameras. SWIR lasers are actually eye-safe while still being powerful to range out far. According to SAFRAN, the JIM LR can range up to 10 kilometers (10,000 meters). I was able to range out to 11,080 meters in broad daylight, which is 6.88 miles away. See the photo below, the mountain top in the background is what I was ranging.

You hold the JIM LR like a giant pair of binoculars. The right-hand side has a hand strap and a button for your right-hand thumb. This button engages the laser range finder. Once engaged, you tap it again to fire the laser range finder. I was able to range out that mountain top and it was almost instantaneous. Maybe about a second and the JIM LR gave me the distance.

There is an option in the JIM LR to switch to the IR pointer. This is for designating targets or objects of interest to someone else who has night vision. There are two versions according to SAFRAN’s brochures: a 0.4mW and a full power 15mW version.

There are rubber covers for the LRF front end and a separate rubber cover for the thermal objective. 
Somewhat like a Nintendo Virtual Boy, the JIM LR has a rubber eye shield/mask to block the light emitted from the LCD screens inside from leaking out. This also blocks sunlight from getting between the screens and your eyes.

On top of the JIM LR, there are four buttons. Left side you have the backtrack button and validation button. The buttons on the right-hand side are for selecting options. The large black bump is the GPS antennae.

With the JIM LR at rest, the right buttons will adjust focus. At rest, you can press the backtrack button and it will switch to the next function option. There are 6 functions. Pressing the backtrack button a seventh time will cycle back to the first option, focus adjustment. The six other functions are as follows: zoom, picture/video, Freeze image/IR TV Day Channel, Calibrate IR/Polarity, brightness and contrast.
At the back of the JIM LR, just below and to the right of the eye mask are two connectors. One of them is for connecting a DAGR for better GPS functionality. The other is for power and video out. There are other uses like data transfer.

To turn on the JIM LR, the power button is on the bottom underneath the unit.

Powering The JIM LR
The JIM LR is powered by a BT-70582 or BT-70747 battery. The 70582 battery is also known as ALI-142 or BT-70483. The BT-70747 battery is also known as a BT-2847A/U. The battery is held in place with a nylon strap.

One end is hooked onto this curved piece of metal.

The other end of the nylon strap is bolted into place on this cam latch. You turn the cam to tighten the strap and hold the battery in place.

The strap works but it is too easy for the strap to slide down and off the battery. As soon as the battery loses connectivity to the contacts, the JIM LR shuts off.
I found this photo of an LRTV off ZIB Miltaria’s website. It is long since sold but it shows a different style battery holder. It looks like a metal cage with a hinged door.
Photo by ZIB Militaria
I decided to try and make a bracket to hold the battery in place. I used angled aluminum, cut it, and folded it into a shape that could hold the battery in place. I need to redo it as the dimensions are a little off. It causes too much pressure on the outside of the battery thus causing the battery to sit at an angle. It is easy for the JIM LR to disconnect for a moment and shut off.

Using The JIM LR
This is a cooled thermal system so it has a cool down time of about 6-8 minutes. There is a loud whirring sound when it does this. It is actively cooling the sensor. There is some sort of mechanical cooling that is happening. The benefit is greater sensitivity. During the 6-8 minutes to cool the sensor, you can use the day channel as well as the laser rangefinder. I posted this photo earlier but you can see the compass, GPS, and laser rangefinder work. They work as soon as the JIM LR turns on but it defaults to thermal mode so you need to manually switch it to day mode.

I also like to go into the menu and change the configuration so the display is on all the time. Once the sensor is sufficiently cooled down, the whirring sound is reduced a bit. You don’t hear if you are 15 ft or more away from the JIM LR. In thermal mode, there is a wide field of view (WFOV) and a narrow field of view (NFOV) as well as digital zoom. The WFOV and NFOV are switched by a physical lens. When you zoom in you can hear a motor moving inside. If you look into the thermal objective lens, you can see an element shifting forwards to you when it zooms in. Day mode starts in NFOV. It does not have a WFOV mode but you can use digital zoom.
530-yard shed at WFOV
530-yard shed at NFOV
digital zoom on the shed
Here is a video with some clips I shot with my iPhone. The whirring sound is the pump actively cooling the multi-stage processor.
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In the video, I tested a Steiner Northstar MWIR beacon. It is tiny and runs off a single CR123. The black circle is where the MWIR signal emanates from.

The beacon has magnets built into the back embedded in the pocket clip. I stuck it to a street sign at the end of my street.

The JIM LR was able to see the MWIR beacon flash 682 meters away. Under normal uncooled LWIR thermal the strobe is only visible to about 25 feet.
Augmenting The JIM LR
One problem I have with the JIM LR is the day channel. It is a digital camera that is not very good at low light. In fact, it is unusable in low light. I was driving through Nevada at night and stopped at a scenic overlook. I pulled out the JIM LR to see at night using the thermal. I noticed some lights out in the distance but since thermal cannot see photons, it was difficult to aim the thermal lens to the spot where I saw the light. When I tried using the day channel it did not show the lights. So I checked the day channel and it starts at WFOV which equates to about 8x on my Vortex Razor 1-10x scope. Since the day channel video camera is at 8x, it should be able to see into my PVS-27. All I had to do was mount it in front of the digital video camera’s objective lens. I used a Larue SPOTR inverting rail, normally used on scope rings to invert a CNVD over the objective lens of your day scope.

I can switch between night vision enhanced digital video or cooled MWIR thermal imagery.

The bottom of the JIM LR has three threaded screw holes. I cut a sheet of steel and drilled holes so it would bolt onto the JIM LR. I then drilled holes to bolt on an arc plate and a segment of Picatinny rail. The Larue inverter rail mounts to the Picatinny rail and holds the PVS-27 in front. I added the ARCA plate but with the shorter ARCA plate on the Larue CNVD rail, it seems superfluous.

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I revisited the same location with a mount for my iPhone and the near-full moon was out.
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In the menu system, the JIM LR even has image stabilization in case you are holding the JIM LR and not using a tripod. However, this is only for observation. If you try to use the laser rangefinder then the image stabilization stops.
Final Thoughts On JIM LR
I picked this up in a trade but they normally fetch a very high price tag. Used ones go for around $20k-$30k. I have not found an MSRP price tag but I suspect it could be around $50k or more. This one has an instruction manual dated 2007 so while it is old, the performance is very good. I am sure the newer ones are even better.
Next on my project list is to make a more rigid platform for the JIM LR and the accessory rails for the night vision rail. I used a thin sheet of steel and while it helped me to realize my proof of concept with the night vision enhanced day channel, the thin sheet is flimsy. One problem is if I use a thicker material that will push the night vision rail even lower. I had to use a KDG sidelock riser on top of the night vision rail just to get the PVS-27 high enough to sit in front of the day channel objective lens.
There are some accessories mentioned in the user guide. Safran made afocal magnifiers for the JIM LR but more importantly, I want the video out/power cable. Then I can record the video from the JIM LR direct to a mini DVR rather than holding my iPhone up to the eyepiece and filming what it sees. Unfortunately, Vectronix has yet to respond to my inquiry to purchase this cable.
I am over the moon that the JIM LR is sensitive enough to see the thermal bullet wake off standard bullets. Seeing the bullet fly to 800 yards and splash on steel is fun and informative. My friends and I will revisit shooting long distance, past 1200 yards, and hope to use the JIM LR to help spot. […]

Each NBA season is defined in part by the players who exceed expectations. Just last season, DeMar DeRozan’s career year at age-32 helped the Chicago Bulls compete at the top of the East for most of the season, breakout sophomore campaigns from Desmond Bane and Tyrese Maxey put their teams on a higher trajectory, and the sudden improvement of players ranging from Al Horford to Robert Williams to Jordan Poole set the course for the Celtics and Warriors to make the NBA Finals.
It’s easy for fans to think of team success as a reflection of how valuable a star player is, but of course we know that isn’t exactly true in today’s NBA. The Brooklyn Nets fell apart without injured shooter Joe Harris, and the Bulls did the same when Lonzo Ball went down. This season will again be full of players whose performance will help make or break their team’s season, whether they’re established stars looking to return to form, or young players ready to take a leap.
Here’s nine NBA players with the most to prove this season if their teams want to reach and exceed expectations. We’re breaking these players into three tiers, but the first man on the list stands above the rest.
Ben Simmons, F, Brooklyn Nets

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The last time we saw Ben Simmons play in an NBA game, he was passing up wide open dunks and getting thrown under the bus by his head coach. Simmons’ infamous collapse in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs triggered a year-long holdout and an eventual trade to the Brooklyn Nets, but the drama didn’t stop when he left Philadelphia. After weeks of reporting indicating Simmons may play in Brooklyn’s first round series against the Boston Celtics, Simmons chose to sit out and may or may not have left a team group chat after doing so.
The hypothetical fit of Simmons next to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is tantalizing, but he has to prove he can get and stay on the court first. In addition to the mental hurdles Simmons has to clear, he also had a major back surgery over the offseason. Simmons feels like the biggest IF of the season: if he can get healthy, if he can return to being one of the best defensive players in basketball, if he can find his role on offense between Durant and Irving, then the Nets could have the makings of a competitive team in the East. Still only 26 years old, Simmons is the rare three-time All-Star who has to totally and completely prove himself once again.
Young players who need to level up
Patrick Williams, F, Chicago Bulls

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulls still don’t know what they have in Patrick Williams as he enters his third pro season. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 draft was the youngest player in the NBA as a rookie, then missed nearly five months last season after being taken out in mid-air by Mitchell Robinson and breaking his wrist. A 6’7, 215-pound forward, Williams has had some impressive moments on both ends of the floor in his young career, but has never made a consistent impact. After an extremely quiet offseason, Chicago is banking heavily on Williams making big improvements if they want to keep pace in a loaded Eastern Conference.
At his best, Williams can create with the ball in his hands on offense, and provide legitimate supplemental rim protection defensively. There’s only one problem: head coach Billy Donovan has primarily used him as a spot-up shooter around DeMar DeRozan’s midrange game, and Williams is too tentative when letting it fly from deep. It’s on Chicago’s coaching to get Williams the ball where he can succeed, but coming back with a more confident three-point shot would be a huge boon for his development.
James Wiseman, C, Golden State Warriors

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Wiseman has barely played basketball over the last three years: eligibility issues limited him to three games during his one-and-done college season at Memphis, he was shutdown late in his rookie year with the Warriors, and he missed all of last season coming off knee surgery. Golden State selected Wiseman with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft expecting him to be their center of the future at the very least, but instead it feels like a long-shot that he can even be as impactful as Kevon Looney.
A 7-foot big man with a 7’6 wingspan, Wiseman has the tools to be a rim protector on defense and lob threat offensively. The Warriors do not have another player with his potential as a vertical spacer, and could definitely use his size and athleticism in the lineup. Golden State didn’t need Wiseman to win the title last season, but they will likely need him this year in an improved Western Conference. With another injured or subpar year, Wiseman is going to look like a pretty huge miss in the draft by the Warriors.
Isaac Okoro, F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Okoro came into the league with a reputation as a defensive stopper on the wing who could score in transition and flashed passing upside, but struggled to shoot from deep. Through his first two NBA seasons, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has mostly lived up to his scouting report. Okoro hit 35 percent of his threes last year, but he only attempted two shots per game from beyond the arc, and mostly only took wide open ones.
After the Donovan Mitchell trade, the Cavs now have nasty top-four with two great bigs (Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley) and two awesome tiny guards (Mitchell and Darius Garland). There’s a hole on the wing, and Okoro would be the perfect man to fill it. His defense should give him a leg open on any internal competition, but it won’t matter much if teams fully cheat off of him on the perimeter to muck up the paint for Cleveland’s stars. If Okoro can develop a reliable catch-and-shoot stroke from three while doubling his volume, the Cavs are going to be in business.
Stars who need to reestablish themselves
Anthony Davis, F/C, Los Angeles Lakers

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

It wasn’t long ago that Anthony Davis was considered by some to be the best player in the NBA. When the Los Angeles Lakers won the championship inside the bubble, Davis’ incredible defensive coverage mixed with his hot outside shooting and excellent finishing made him the most valuable player on a title team, even if LeBron James was named Finals MVP. Since then, though, Davis has been a part-time player because of injuries and the Lakers have been one of the league’s biggest underachievers.
If the Lakers are going to be get back to being a title contender in James’ twilight years, the biggest factor will be Davis’ ability to stay healthy and regain his status as one of the league’s most dominant forces. Still only 29 years old, Davis should be smack in the middle of a Hall of Fame prime. If he has another disappointing season, it’s fair to wonder if the Lakers can ever regain contender status with James still on the team.
Kyrie Irving, G, Brooklyn Nets

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

All Kyrie Irving did last season was undercut the preseason championship favorites by refusing to take the Covid vaccine. When it happened, James Harden his way out of town, the Nets got swept in the first round of the playoffs, and the franchise refused to give him a long-term contract extension that triggered Kevin Durant’s trade request. With the vaccine mandate behind him, Irving should be poised to show that he’s one of the league’s top guards once again, but he’ll have to stay out of his own way to do it.
Irving got a wakeup call this summer when he tried to find a new team, but didn’t have any real suitors beyond the Lakers. Now on an expiring contract, Kyrie has all the motivation he needs for a big year. Still, most people will believe it when they see it.
James Harden, G, Philadelphia 76ers

Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

James Harden’s struggles at the start of the last season were written off as a veteran superstar adjusting to the league’s new point of emphasis on calling shooting fouls. By midseason, most agreed that Harden simply lacked the explosiveness of his prime years. After forcing a deadline deal from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, Harden flashed the advanced passing and pull-up shooting skills that once helped make him unguardable, but his lack of consistently can be traced back to his inability to consistently get to the rim.
Now 33 years old, Harden feels like he’s at a crossroads of his career: if he’s ever going to beat the allegations of underwhelming in the playoffs, now is the time. Philly’s NBA Finals hopes rest on Harden rediscovering is peak form.
Young fringe stars who need to take the next step
Michael Porter Jr., F, Denver Nuggets

Photo by Jeff Swinger/NBAE via Getty Images

Michael Porter Jr. has played all of 125 games in four seasons since being drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2018, but his flashes were impressive enough to earn him a max extension worth up to $207 million. The knock on Porter going back to his short-lived college days at Missouri has always been his lack of durability, and his long-standing back issues flared up against last season, limiting him to only nine games.
If Porter can stay healthy, he’s a 6’10 sharpshooter who could be the perfect third option next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The Nuggets can legitimately dream of a title if it all comes together, but Porter needs to prove he can on the floor and live up to his billing as a knockdown shooter. No one has ever doubted Porter’s talent, but it won’t do Denver much good if he can’t be durable.
De’Aaron Fox, G, Sacramento Kings

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

De’Aaron Fox once felt like he was destined to become of the league’s best point guards, but his improvement has flatlined a bit as he starts his sixth NBA season. Fox remains as fast as any player in the NBA, but he stagnated as a playmaker last season and still struggles as an outside shooter. The Kings chose Fox over Tyrese Haliburton, and he’s going to have to knock down outside shots to make that look like a prudent move. Sacramento has enough talent to potentially push for a low-end playoff spot with Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, and rookie Keegan Murray flanking him, but they need Fox to fully realize his potential. […]

This is a review of the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro, which Pulsar claims is the first thermal imaging riflescope with a classic design and built-in laser rangefinder. Loaded with features and some of the most powerful components available on the market, like the EU-made 640×480 sensor, this is definitely one to evaluate if you’re looking for a premium thermal rifle scope.
Pulsar @ TFB:

As soon as the Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro was released at the beginning of 2022, I bought one of the first on the market. I was a happy owner until I got an offer I couldn’t refuse, from a fellow hunter. Pulsar where then kind to send me a loaner, so this review is based on two samples over about 7 months. I had no issues with either. Over time I have tested the Thermion 2 LRF on a wide variety of firearms. From a Heckler & Koch MR223 for the fun of it to a Browning BAR Match (perfect for wild boar) to more traditional hunting rifles.

The same goes for all of the situations where I’ve tried the riflescope. From just playing around the house, putting it on a tripod in front of a feeder and watching wild boar to stalking and other real hunting situations.
Below: The Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro mounted on a Browning BAR Match .308 Win. The housing is waterproof IPX7. The front cap is hinged. Rekon Tripod and saddle.

Perfect Precision! With a red Accuracy International AT-X around, yeah I had to try that as well, and it looked excellent. What could have been better? A blue AT-X, of course! To go with the blue ring on the Pulsar.

First Impressions and Ergonomics
The quality from Pulsar is instantly visible. Overall you get a good feel, and my thoughts go to the high-end German and Austrian manufacturers of optics. If there were any shortcuts taken in terms of material or surface finish, I sure can’t detect them. It’s clear that a professional industrial designer (or most likely a team) had their say when the Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro was designed.

Below: The Thermion 2 models have an internal battery as well as an interchangeable, rechargeable one. Changing the external batteries is very easy, even in darkness. You can use an external power supply via USB as well.

I’m quite used to the look of the Thermion series by now, and the LRF unit does look a bit odd with the rangefinder looking like a brick mounted on top of the objective. I’m getting used by now, and I don’t really see how Pulsar could have put it in any other place either.

The ergonomics work so well, that it almost gets boring to talk about it. The only real issue I have is that the scroll wheel (on the left side/turret) sometimes goes one click further than I wanted, as I click the confirm button. It’s a bit irritating. Having just reviewed the Pulsar Talion XQ38, I would prefer that kind of control on the Thermions as well.
The new ambidextrous focus wheels (one on each side) is a huge step forward. They work great and smooth and are such an improvement versus the previous design.
Below: I repeat my message that I see a lot of thermals with cheap mounts, like you don’t have to care about zeroing when you’re hunting at night? Please think again and get yourself a quality mount that stays where you want it. Here you see the Spuhr SP-3002 cantilever (mounted) and a Quick-Detach version.

In terms of firmware and software, I do prefer the menu system on the Pulsar Proton and Krypton units, which use a round menu to choose from instead of a list.
Technical Specifications
The thermal sensor is made by Lyndred in France and has 640×480 @ 17 µm, 50 Hz frame rate. The NETD is […]

So you’ve just gotten a new Raspberry Pi, perhaps even the Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 400, and taken it out of the box. Now what? There are a million things you can do with your mini computer, from using it as a web server to turning into a retro arcade, but first you need to set up the Raspberry Pi. Note that, if this is a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller, the setup process is completely different so see our article on how to set up Raspberry Pi Pico.If you bought your Pi as part of a kit, you probably got everything you need right in the box, but if you just have the board, you’ll need the following:And, unless you plan to do a headless install on the Raspberry Pi and use it via remote desktop or SSH (controlling it from a PC), you will need.Keyboard (wired or perhaps one of the best wireless keyboards)Mouse or other pointing deviceMonitor or TVHDMI cablesNote that the HDMI cable you need varies based on the Raspberry Pi you are using. Raspberry Pi 4 B and Pi 400 have dual, micro HDMI out ports so they require micro HDMI to HDMI cables (opens in new tab) or adapters. The Raspberry Pi Zero / Zero W and Zero 2 W have mini HDMI and therefore need mini HDMI to HDMI cables (opens in new tab) to connect to a display. All other Raspberry Pi models, including the 3 B, have standard HDMI ports and can use HDMI male to male cables to attach to your monitor or TV.Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi’s PowerYou can’t set up a Raspberry Pi without a way to power it on. The Raspberry Pi 4 B and Raspberry Pi 400 (which is just a 4 B inside a keyboard) are powered via a USB Type-C port, which requires a charger that can output 5 volts and 3 amps. Most USB Type-C phone chargers don’t have enough amps to get the job done, unless they have USB PD capability, but USB-C laptop chargers should all work. While it’s unlikely to be a problem, note that Pi 4 models that were manufactured in 2019 or early 2020 have a bug which prevents them from charging over high-speed data cables that support USB 3.x 5 or 10 Gbps connections.All other Raspberry Pi models, including the Raspberry Pi 3 B and Pi Zero / Zero W / Zero 2 W, get power via a micro USB port, which means that you can give it juice by connecting it to just about any of the many different third-party chargers or even by attaching it to one of your computer’s USB ports. While you can get away with giving the board a lot less electricity (the Pi Zero W runs perfectly off of my laptop’s USB port), the optimal power source for a Raspberry Pi 3 should have 5 volts and 2.5 amps, which also provides plenty of power for any peripherals you attach to its USB ports.There are a number of power supplies that are made specifically for Raspberry Pis, including the official Raspberry Pi  4 power supply (opens in new tab) and the CanaKit 5V 2.5A supply (opens in new tab)for other Raspberry Pi models.The Pi doesn’t have a built-in power switch, so the default way to turn it on is to plug it in. You can also find power supplies with built-in on / off switches. However, to avoid data loss, you’ll want to use the shutdown feature in your operating system (OS) before unplugging or switching it off. An OS on a microSD CardThere are more than a dozen different OSes for Raspberry Pi, and there’s even a way to run full Windows 11 on the Pi 4. However, Raspberry Pi OS, a special version of Debian Linux that’s optimized for the Pi, is the best platform for most use cases so that’s the one we’ll be explaining how to set up.The Raspberry Pi has no internal storage, but instead boots off of a a microSD memory card that you provide. Be sure to get a card that’s at least 8GB, preferably 32GB or higher, and has class 10 speed (see our list of best Raspberry Pi microSD cards). It almost goes without saying, but you’ll need some kind of card reader to write the OS to it from your PC.Headless Install for Raspberry Pi?If you just want to experiment with the Pi or use it to control physical objects like lights, motors and sensors, you don’t need to give it its own screen and keyboard. Follow our separate instructions for how to do a headless install on the Raspberry Pi, and you can control the device from the desktop of your PC or Mac, using VNC or SSH remote access software.Downloading and Installing Raspberry Pi OSOnce you have all the components you need, use the following steps to create the boot disk you will need to set up your Raspberry Pi. These steps should work on a  using a Windows, Mac or Linux-based PC (we tried this on Windows, but it should be the same on all three).1.  Insert a microSD card / reader into your computer.  2.  Download and install the official Raspberry Pi Imager. Available for Windows, macOS or Linux, this app will both download and install the latest Raspberry Pi OS. There are other ways to do this, namely by downloading a Raspberry Pi OS image file and then using a third-party app to “burn it,” but the Imager makes it easier. 3.  Click Choose OS.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Select Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit) from the OS menu (there are other choices, but for most uses, 32-bit is the best).  (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 4. Click Choose storage and pick the SD card you’re using. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Click the settings button or hit CTRL + SHIFT + X to enter settings.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. Fill in settings fields as follows and then hit Save. All of these fields are technically optional, but highly recommended so that can get your Raspberry Pi set up and online as soon as you boot it. If you don’t set a username and password here, you’ll have to go through a setup wizard that asks you to create them on first boot.Set hostname: the name of your Pi. It could be “raspberrypi” or anything you  like.Enable SSH: Allow SSH connections to the Pi. Recommended.Use password authentication / public key: method of logging in via SSHSet username and password: Pick the username and password you’ll use for the PiConfigure wireless LAN: set the SSID and password of Wi-FI networkWireless LAN country: If you’re setting up Wi-Fi, you must choose this.Set locale settings: Configure keyboard layout and timezone (probably chosen correctly by default)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)7. Click Write. The app will now take a few minutes to download the OS and write to your card.  (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)Booting Your Raspberry Pi for the First TimeAfter you’re done writing the Raspberry Pi OS to a microSD card, it’s time for the moment of truth.1. Insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi.2. Connect the Raspberry Pi to a monitor, keyboard and mouse.3. Connect an Ethernet cable if you plan to use wired Internet.4. Plug the Pi in to power it on. If you had used the Raspberry Pi Imager settings to create a username and password, you’ll be able to go straight into the desktop environment, but if not, you will get a setup wizard.Using the Raspberry Pi First-Time Setup WIzardIf you chose a username and password in Raspberry Pi Imager settings, before writing the microSD card, you will get the desktop on first boot. But, if you did not, you’ll be prompted to create a username and password and enter all the network credentials by a setup wizard on first boot. If that happens, follow these steps to finish setting up your Raspberry Pi.1. Click Next on the dialog box.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Set your country and and language and click Next. The default choices may already be the correct ones.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. Enter a username and password you wish to use for your primary login. Click Next.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Toggle Reduce the size of the desktop” to on if the borders of the desktop are cut off. Otherwise, just click Next.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)5. Select the appropriate Wi-Fi network on the screen after, provided that you are connecting via Wi-Fi. If you don’t have Wi-Fi or are using Ethernet, you can skip this.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)6. Enter your Wi-Fi password (unless you were using Ethernet and skipped). (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)7. Click Next when prompted to Update Software. This will only work when you are connected to the Internet, and it can take several minutes. If you are not connected to the Internet, click Skip.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)8. Click Restart. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)If you wish to change these settings later, you can find the region and password settings, along with many other options, by clicking on the Pi icon in the upper left corner of the screen and navigating to Preferences – > Raspberry Pi Configuration. You can configure Wi-Fi by clicking on the Wi-Fi / network icon on the taskbar. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)Changing Your Screen Resolution on Raspberry PiIf you don’t have enough desktop real estate, you may want to change your screen resolution to ensure that it matches what your display is capable of. If you are using a headless Pi and accessing it via VNC, you still probably want at least a 720p screen.To change the Raspberry Pi resolution:1. Open the Screen configuration menu by clicking on the Pi icon then selecting Preferences – > Screen Configuration.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)2. Right Click on the HDMI box and select your Resolution from the Resolution menu.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)3. Click the Check box. The screen resolution will update.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)4. Click Yes to reboot.(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)What Do I Do Now?Now that you have set up your Raspberry Pi, there are so many different things you can do with it. Some popular uses include making your Raspberry Pi into a retro arcade machine, using your Raspberry Pi as a web server or using it as the brain for a robot, security system or custom iOT device.  Here are some tutorials to get you started. […]

Photo Of The Day – Today we get a closer look at some tricked-out Swedish Ak5 rifles. “Ak” stands for Automatkarbin in Swedish, which translates to an automatic carbine. This is the current standard-issue rifle for the Swedish military.
Ak5 was developed in the 80s from the FN FNC. Between 2004 and 2009, the Ak5 received several upgrades like a shorter barrel, adjustable stock, Picatinny rail and Aimpoint red dot sight. As you can see in some of these images, some also have a vertical front grip, red dot magnifier, and laser designators.

Here’s the caption from the U.S. Marines’ Twitter account:

#Marines assigned to the @22nd_MEU and Swedish soldiers post security during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft Personnel training mission near Kristianstad, Sweden, Aug. 26. The #22ndMEU is on a scheduled deployment under the command and control of @taskforce61_2

Below: Note the dog. These Ak5s have pretty different configurations, as well as paint schemes.

For more Ak5s please check these articles: Strange Guns: Bullpup Ak5 (FNC), The FN FNC, The Ak 5D Police – CGA5 P and CGA5 C2 and Sweden And Finland To Work Together To Procure New Service Rifle.
Here’s more information and pictures about the Ak5 C and D versions (in Swedish only): Automatkarbin 5 C/D.

Source: The official Twitter account of the United States Marine Corps […]

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at the rise in PDWs being carried by individuals and what that looks like in public. When it comes to carrying concealed, there’s a wide variety of situations and settings that make you stop and question if you should carry. It happened to all of us who carry on a regular basis where you have to make a choice whether or not to carry in a certain situation. People will occasionally send me a question about a certain place or situation to carry in so I figured we could take a closer look at some of these situations. Let’s jump into the complicated world of carrying in questionable places.

Legality and Consequences
One of the biggest questions when it comes to carrying concealed handguns is the legality of carrying in various places. Whether it’s a movie theater, a privately owned business, or a questionable place like a bar or club, it’s important to know what your state laws say about various settings with a firearm. Two states that I visit frequently are Michigan and South Carolina. Both states have reciprocity and are similar in laws but have differences when it comes to certain settings.

Bars
Settings like a bar or restaurant can be a tricky spot for certain people to carry. For example, South Carolina says you can carry in a bar or restaurant setting as long as you don’t drink any alcohol. However, in Michigan, you can only carry in a bar if the total sales of alcohol is 40% or less of the total revenue of the business. This is much more complicated than South Carolina’s ruling since you have to make a judgment call that could end up being different from the actual percentage breakdown.

This example is a perfect example of the large variations of laws each state can have. What makes this tricky is when you decide to travel from state to state. It’s always important to check out the local laws of your destination as well as the laws of states you are traveling through to be in compliance. South Carolina in this case has more freedom to carry when talking about bars and restaurants.

Privately Owned Businesses
Another big difference between the two states when it comes to carrying concealed is in the case of privately owned businesses. When it comes to Michigan law, privately owned businesses are alright to carry a concealed firearm in unless the managers or owners ask you to leave the property. If you refuse to leave the property after being confronted, then it will be considered a misdemeanor trespassing infraction. This allows people to carry without much worry of being arrested for carrying inside a privately owned business. It makes the business owner to actually see the carrier’s firearm to ask them to leave before there’s any potential repercussions.

South Carolina laws when it comes to private businesses are a different story. In South Carolina, there’s no requirement for store owners to ask you to leave if there’s a no guns allowed sign posted on the front of the business. It can automatically be considered trespassing with no need to ask the individual to leave. This is where knowing the local laws of the place you’re visiting beforehand really does pay off. The big decision to carry regardless of the consequences can land you in jail with a misdemeanor or more if you’re caught carrying a concealed handgun where you shouldn’t.

Risk Versus Reward
The obvious dilemma that presents itself here is the choice to carry a concealed firearm no matter where you’re going and risk getting the consequences or obey the boundaries without a firearm. The recent mall shooting in Indiana is a good example of the constant risk vs reward we face as concealed carriers. Elisjsha Dickens was in that grey area since most malls across the United States are self-declared “gun-free zones.”

Despite this being the case at the Greenwood Park Mall, Elisjsha still decided to carry which ultimately saved his life along with countless other lives. In that situation, I would say the risk was most certainly worth the reward but that’s not always how things work out. I cannot think of a worse feeling than being caught in a life or death situation only to realize you obeyed the laws and disarmed before going into a certain area. Sometimes we have no choice and have to avoid the area entirely if that’s a possibility.

Legally, it would be irresponsible of me to advise you one way or another, but hardly anyone talks about the countless times you will be put into these situations as a concealed carrier in your lifetime. There will always be choices presented to you where you may have to go into a self-declared gun-free zone or private property that is considered a gun-free zone. To be clear these are very different from the federal gun-free zones like schools and post offices but it’s still important to consider in the big picture.
Personal Choices
It all boils down to what you see as an acceptable risk to carry in gray areas like privately owned gun-free zones. Whether that’s a mall, big box store or grocery store, it’s ultimately up to you to decide what’s worth it. In the case of the Greenwood Park Mall shooting, it looks like Elisjsha Dickens is going to be in the clear of any charges and will not get into trouble for carrying in a self-declared gun-free zone.

This isn’t exactly the reason why I wrote this article and depending on what state you live in, the outcome could be drastically different than it was in Indiana. I know what I do on a daily basis and I think most of you will make the same decision when presented with the choice. It’s important to have a well-concealed firearm and be confident in your ability to carry a concealed firearm. If you’re not comfortable with the potential consequences of carrying in gray areas then you know your answer as well.
Overall Thoughts
When people first take their concealed carry courses, oftentimes the instructors will paint it as a very black and white situation for carrying a concealed firearm in public. This just simply isn’t true and there are so many situations where you will find yourself in the gray area having to make a choice about what you do. As time goes on, this decision becomes easier but it’s still important to take into consideration and talk about.

What do you guys think about carrying in questionable places? Let me know down in the comments below. I can see both sides of this argument and I honestly won’t be shocked if I see both perspectives in the comments but it’s still important to talk about! If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeopeartor. Stay safe out there and I will see you next week!
TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK […]

DeepCool was founded in Beijing in 1996 and has earned a solid reputation in the CPU Cooler space with options like the Assassin III and AK620, considered to be some of the best air coolers on the market. The company’s lineup includes both air and AIO coolers as well as computer cases, keyboards, power supplies, and other accessories.  We have DeepCool’s new LS520, a 240mm AIO liquid cooler which retails for $109 USD, on our test bench. While most AIOs on the market are based on Asetek designs, DeepCool is one of the few companies which make their own, in-house, pump designs. The LS520 features a redesigned pump system, but is that enough to tame Intel’s 12900K and earn a spot on our best AIO coolers list? We’ll have to put it through testing to find out. But first here are the specifications from DeepCool. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)Specifications for the DeepCool LS520

CoolerDeepCool LS520MSRP$109 USDRadiator Dimensions282 x 120 x 27mmNet Weight1305gSocket CompatibilityIntel Socket LGA 115X / 1200 / 1700 / 2011 / 2066 AMD AM4 / AM5 / sTRX4 / sTR4Rated Noise LevelUp to 32.9 dBACPU BlockCopper

Packing and Included ContentsDeepCool’s LS520 ships in a medium-sized box, packed with molded cardboard and soft p;lastic coverings of the individual parts for protection. Image […]