Tag: Texas LawShield

Mammoth Teams with U.S. & Texas LawShield

(HOUSTON, TX) U.S. & Texas LawShield®, the finest Legal Defense for Self Defense program in the nation, is pleased to announce that Mammoth has joined their list of 2A Member Perk preferred partners as well as a U.S and Texas LawShield Facility partner. Mammoth is the nation’s leading provider of premium rotomolded coolers, drinkware, and accessories, with products are built from the highest quality materials, are made to last, and all come backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

Mammoth will be offering 25% OFF all orders. U.S. & Texas LawShield members can log into their account at www.uslawshield.com to access the Mammoth promo code and receive their discount.

Mike Hannigan, CEO at Mammoth said, “We are proud to become a facility partner of U.S. & Texas LawShield and look forward to introducing the Mammoth brand to their members. We’ll work together with their team to offer unique and exciting perks and discounts to their member base.”

Jim Fisher, National Sales Director for U.S. & Texas LawShield tells us, “U.S. & Texas LawShield is excited to add Mammoth Coolers to our long list of 2nd Amendment friendly companies involved in the member perks program! Companies like Mammoth Coolers fit our member family perfectly with great products at a great price.”

At an affordable $10.95 per month, U.S. & Texas LawShield members receive the finest self-defense coverage available anywhere. The Member Perks program was designed to give members access to exclusive product and service discounts to top brands and manufacturers throughout the country. They are very selective in who they choose, and are proud to have a brand like Mammoth on board. For more information on how to become a U.S. & Texas LawShield member and to access discounts from manufacturers like Mammoth, please visit uslawshield.com or contact Member Services at 877.448.6839. Use Promo Code MAMMOTH for two additional months FREE when you sign up for an annual membership.

About Mammoth

Mammoth Coolers is out there in the field, on the water, at the tailgate party and in the backyard learning what works and what doesn’t so we can make all our products work for everyone. Every innovation we make is driven by a desire for performance, price and productivity. From our superior coolers to our Chillski, from our Rover tumbler to the Tusk, all our products were made for every person no matter their passion, no matter their interests. All backed by a Lifetime Warranty. For more information or order inquiries, please contact support@mammothcooler.com or visit mammothcooler.com/. For press or media inquiries, please contact Brittany Maki at bmaki@rendezvousmarketinggroup.com.

About U.S. & Texas LawShield

U.S. & Texas LawShield is the leading legal defense for self-defense coverage program in the country, offering peace of mind to gun owners and anyone else who may have to defend themselves in a life-threatening situation. We provide no caps, no limits, and no deductibles for any covered event, as well as an industry-defining, nationwide network of fully vetted Independent Program Attorneys ready to defend you, your rights, and your freedom.

 

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Support Your Local Gun Store

The news has been filled with stories of big box chain stores, Wal-Mart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and others, declaring they will no longer sell “assault-style” rifles. They have also declared they will not sell any firearm or ammunition to a person under the age of 21. If you’re between the ages of 18 and 21, you might be asking yourself how can I exercise my Second Amendment legal right to purchase a long gun? Or, if you’re a stringent supporter of the Second Amendment you may not want to support companies who don’t support the Second Amendment and are asking yourself what can I do? The answer to both questions is simple— support your local gun store.

Small Businesses: The Heartbeat of America

Small businesses, such as your local gun stores have been the heart of the American economy since the colonial days. Local gunsmiths during the American Revolution were a vital part in providing the Colonial Army firearms to be able to win independence from the British. With the second amendment under attack, it is more important than ever to support your local gun store.

U.S. & Texas LawShield is proud to be able to partner with many local gun stores across the country. These partners make up a large portion of our 2A Member Perks. Many Member Perks partners offer discounts to our members on firearms and accessories. Members, be sure to check out your Member Portal to see the discounts offered, and please continue to support the local stores and shops who do not infringe on YOUR Second Amendment rights.

Let us know your favorite gun store in the comments below.

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3 Things Movies Get Wrong About Tourniquets

When faced with an unknown, stressful situation, the typical first reaction is to do what you have seen other people do.  In cases where those people have reacted correctly, this can be great.  However, in situations where that person’s response was incorrect, the results could be catastrophic.

Unfortunately, how Hollywood approaches the presentation of life-saving medical interventions on screen is often wrong; but nevertheless, these flawed methods get repeated… and repeated…. and repeated until they have been shown so many times that the audience (you) remembers what they have seen and accepts it as fact.  It takes facing a life-threatening situation to finally realize what you’ve seen simply will not work, and at that point, it will be too late.  Perhaps the most common misinterpretation by Hollywood is effectively applying a tourniquet to yourself or an injured person.

What is a tourniquet?

A tourniquet is a device or object (commercially-made tourniquet, shirt, belt, triangular bandage, etc.) that is placed around the injured extremity between the wound and the heart and tightened.  As it is tightened, it generates a “cone of pressure” underneath the tourniquet material.  This cone of pressure compresses the underlying muscle, which then compresses the arteries and veins.  Once these blood vessels have been closed off, blood flow to the extremity stops.

Sounds like a simple concept, right?  Yet an amazing amount of science supports the hows and whys of proper tourniquet material selection, usage, and application.  Research and testing is done at the United State Army Institute for Surgical Research.  This is the research lab whose mission is to provide combat casualty care medical solutions and products for wounded warriors. In other words, they do the research and testing of life-saving interventions that may be used for battlefield wounds.

With that background knowledge, let’s look at some of the most common tourniquet mistakes.

3 Common Tourniquet Mistakes

Myth #1 How often have we seen the hero rip the phone cord (or electrical cord) out of the wall and tie it tightly around an arm or leg to stop the bleeding and save the day?

This improvised method of applying a tourniquet has a 100% failure rate.

The cone of pressure is specifically related to the width of the material used for the tourniquet.  A narrow piece of material (bungee cord, phone cord, etc.), when tightened, generates a very narrow and shallow cone of pressure which fails to penetrate deeply enough into the arm/leg to compress the muscles.  If the muscles are inadequately compressed, then the blood vessels will remain open and the bleeding continues.

Myth #2 Another popular method of improvising a tourniquet is to tie a shirt around the injured extremity or use a belt.  Unfortunately, while these are wider, simply pulling the belt as tightly as possible, or tying the shirt also has a 100% failure rate.  While the belt and shirt may be wider than the phone cord when generating the cone of pressure, they are ineffective because simply pulling the material or the belt tight will not generate a cone of pressure that is deep enough to compress the blood vessels.  Instead, a wide shallow cone of pressure is generated. Again, the result is failure to stop the bleeding!

Clothing material is too “stretchy” to be effective and belts are often too rigid to allow satisfactory tightening.  Either way, this has a 100% failure rate!

In reality, it takes time, knowledge, and practice to create an improvised tourniquet that works.  While this is being done, the victim continues to lose blood.  The Institute of Surgical Research has shown that under the best of conditions, an improvised tourniquet with a rigid rod (windlass) for tightening still has a 70% failure rate.  Far better to be familiar with, carry, and understand how to successfully use a commercially-made tourniquet such as the CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet).

Myth #3 Once the bleeding stops, that means the tourniquet is working.

How often have we seen a tourniquet applied, but nothing else is done to the injured extremity?

With massive arterial bleeds, it is critical to determine whether the tourniquet application has been successful.  Simply placing the tourniquet or looking at the wound to see if the bleeding has decreased is not the correct method to determine success.

The only way to tell if a tourniquet has been successfully applied is to check for the pulse.  If there is a pulse in the injured arm/leg below the tourniquet, then the tourniquet is not working, and this situation needs to be immediately corrected.

When using tourniquets, it is critical that the person applying the tourniquet knows where to check for the presence or absence of a pulse.  Otherwise, it is impossible to determine the success of tourniquet application.

Learn how to check for a pulse and how to properly apply a tourniquet in First Aid for Gunshot Wounds,  the educational course and guidebook, developed by U.S. LawShield. The course teaches the basic life-saving interventions that are necessary in any traumatic life-threatening situation (gunshot wounds, motor vehicle accidents, industrial accidents, etc.).  Learn how to treat the 3 potentially preventable causes of death—massive arterial bleeding, airway obstruction, and chest wounds.

Find a course in your area at gunlawseminar.com or sign up for the online course at 2ainstitute.com.

It is far better to have the knowledge and not need it, than to need it and not have it!

—Dr. Rick Hammesfahr, U.S. LawShield Medical Director

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3 Self-Defense Stories with Outcomes You Won’t Believe!

Three Self-Defense Stories with Outcomes You Won’t Believe!

There are many stories where innocent victims of crime wind up in trouble for defending themselves. Just because you legally defend yourself does not mean the trouble is over. It may be just the beginning. Remember, you can be sued for anything at any time.

Here are three stories where the innocent person was victimized again by the bad guy and faced a lawsuit for their lawful actions.

90-Year-Old Shooting Victim Sued for Shooting Burglar

One Tuesday morning, in January 2012, Samuel Cutrufelli, a 30-year-old convicted felon, broke into Jay Leone’s home and stuck a gun to his head. Leone, a 90-year-old resident of the small unincorporated community of Greenbrae (just north of San Fransisco), was tied up, and Cutrufelli began ransacking the home, looking for loot. Leone convinced the home invader to allow him to use the restroom, where he retrieved a handgun he kept hidden in the toilet tank and confronted Cutrufelli.

Cutrufelli responded by shooting Leone in the face. Seriously wounded, Leone was able to return fire and wounded Cutrufelli. Cutrefelli was able to wrestle the gun from Leone’s hand and put it to Leone’s head, pulling the trigger. Fortunately, the gun was out of ammo. He fled the scene but was caught a short distance away. Both were taken to the hospital, where Leone underwent weeks of hospital care.

Cutrufelli was convicted of burglary, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property, possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of attempted murder.

But that was not the end of the story.

While waiting for his sentencing hearing, Cutrufelli filed a civil lawsuit against Leone. His case blames Leone for “negligently shooting him, causing great bodily injury, which led to him losing his home and to his wife filing for divorce.”

Leone had to spend money hiring an attorney to defend against this lawsuit. At a court hearing on the case, the judge said there was no “negligence” on the part of Leone since he hit what he was aiming at! He then dismissed the case.

Oh, by the way, Cutrufelli was sentenced to life in prison.

“Target” Takes Aim at Hero

Michael Turner, 50, was shopping at the big box chain store, in Pennsylvania back in 2013, when he came to the defense of a 16-year-old girl.

A mentally ill man, Leon Wells, 44, rushed into the store while being pursued by a group of men after stabbing their friend a few blocks away. Wells grabbed the young girl as a hostage. He stabbed her twice and then held a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her.

Turner was not going to let that happen, so he rushed Wells and wrestled him away from the girl and held him till police arrived. The girl was not severely injured and survived. Her mother believes Turner to be a hero.

Target, on the other hand, thinks otherwise. After the young girl’s mother sued Target for lack of security, Target filed a claim against Turner, asserting Turner caused ‘unreasonable risk of harm to others’ when he helped capture the attacker.

The company claims in its suit that the pursuit of Wells into the store is what ultimately led to the teen’s stabbing.

“The public policy that they’re (Target) eliciting as a result of their actions is reprehensible,” says Turner’s attorney, Todd Hollis. “What they’re actually saying is for any bystander who attempts to help another that you subject yourself to being sued.”

After three years of court battles, Target reached a confidential settlement with the mother and Turner and the case was dismissed.

This Fast-Food Robber was Hungry . . . for Revenge!

A Delaware man attempted to rob a pizzeria at gunpoint one evening a few years ago when he encountered some unexpected resistance.

Nigel Sykes, 20, entered the Seasons Pizzaria in Newport, DE, with the intention of robbing the store and its employees. He brought a gun along to persuade cooperation. After all, he had done this several times before, having robbed a bank, three other pizzerias, two fast food restaurants, and two convenience stores. Apparently, he had found his “career path.”

This time, however, the employees were not going to let Sykes get away with it. They tackled him and wrestled him to the ground, causing the gun to discharge. Fortunately, nobody was hit by the errant shot.

Sykes was arrested, charged with robbery, attempted robbery, and three weapons counts. He was convicted, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. While in prison, Sykes filed a federal lawsuit against the pizzeria, its employees, and the two arresting officers, claiming he was “beaten unnecessarily.” Really?

The U.S. District Court judge threw out several of Sykes’ claims but allowed the suit to go forward against the named defendants, each of whom had to hire attorneys to fight the suit in federal court.

Keep the Protection You Need . . . and Deserve!

Lawsuits such as these do occur and they can be extremely costly to defend against. Fortunately, for Members of U.S. & Texas LawShield, such financial devastation is avoided.

By maintaining your membership with U.S. & Texas LawShield, you have the peace of mind knowing that your attorneys’ fees are covered 100% for criminal charges and civil lawsuits resulting from your actions in a legal self-defense situation. Just another of the many benefits your membership provides.

 

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Can I Gift A Gun? – Texas

Do you have the question, can I gift a gun for the holidays? Watch this video with Independent Program Attorney Edwin Walker teaching what you need to know before you buy.

Edwin: Hi I’m Edwin Walker, Independent Program Attorney for Texas LawShield. It’s that time of year again when we give gifts to those that we love and care about. Some of you may care enough about your loved ones to give them the gift of a firearm for self-defense.

Many of you may be familiar with the ATF slogan: Don’t Lie For the Other Guy, and know that it is a federal felony to buy a gun as a straw purchaser for someone else. Obviously, this law is to prevent someone who is disqualified from obtaining firearms. However, this law also applies even if the person is not disqualified.

Does this law impact your ability to purchase a firearm as a gift? The simple answer is no. In fact, the ATF goes to great lengths to explain this in the instructions for ATF Form 4473 Question 11A: If the firearm legitimately purchased as a bona fide gift to a third person it does not violate the law.

This is straight-forward enough but it is really only half the story. You may be able to lawfully purchase a firearm as a gift, but you must be sure the person to whom you are giving the firearm is eligible to receive it. It is a violation of the law to sell, rent, lease, loan, or give a firearm to a person who the transferrer knows is disqualified from purchasing or possessing a gun because they are a convicted felon, convicted of a crime of domestic abuse, subject to a family violence protective order, or subject to some other federal disqualification.

Further, it is illegal for you to purchase and give a firearm to a person who is a resident in another state without having a federally-licensed firearms dealer conduct a background check on the individual receiving the gun.

Also, you may want to consider that when giving a firearm as a gift that there are so many variables and personal preferences involved with regard to make, model, features and caliber that it might be better to give that person a gift certificate to their favorite gun store.

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Not So Silent Night

Our Member Dalton heard a bump in the night, and it was not Santa and his reindeer delivering presents. Watch the video to hear Dalton’s story and how U.S. & Texas LawShield was able to make sure he did not have a blue Christmas. 

Sherry: We’ve all been there, a noise in the middle of the night startles us awake and puts us on high alert. Most of the time it’s nothing, but our Member Dalton found out sometime it really is a threatening situation. Here’s his story.

Dalton: I came home exhausted from work one night and fell asleep on the couch. I woke up to a sound at my back door. It sounded like somebody was trying to break in. I didn’t know what it was, and I wasn’t about to risk my family’s safety. As I opened the back door, fearful of what was behind it. I froze when I saw two men staring back at me. I cocked my shotgun and fired.

I called the LawShield emergency hotline and was advised by my Independent Program Attorney all the way through the police investigation. No one was hurt and no charges were filed.

Sherry: Thanks to Dalton’s quick action and preparedness a life-threatening situation was avoided and his family was safe. U.S. & Texas LawShield protected him and gave him the confidence to react responsibly in defending his loved ones. Home invasions are frightening but know if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others U.S. & Texas LawShield has you covered.

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Top 5 States to Avoid With Firearms This Holiday Season

car-driving-sunset

The holidays are a time for family and friends. We know many of you choose to travel and have concerns about where you’re lawfully allowed to carry your firearms. Let us help ease those concerns.

Every state and its laws are not created equal. The laws can be confusing and cumbersome to understand on what you can and cannot do with your firearm. If every state was like Vermont, law abiding gun owners could freely travel with their firearms with no worries. Unfortunately, many states have a history of being hostile to traveling gun owners.  The federal “Firearms Owner Protection Act” enacted in 1986, allows travel through any state as long as the firearm is:

  1. unloaded,
  2. in a locked case, and
  3. not easily accessible to the passengers.

But some states have a documented history of creating loopholes in the law. This led us to the top 5 states to avoid while traveling with a firearm this holiday season.

U.S. & Texas LawShield’s Top 5 States to Avoid with Firearms

  1. CONNECTICUT—Connecticut does not have any gun reciprocity agreements with other states. This means nonresidents are not allowed to carry handguns in Connecticut under a permit issued by another state.
  2. HAWAII—Every person arriving into the state who brings a firearm of any description, usable or not, shall register the firearm within three days of the arrival of the person or the firearm, whichever arrives later, with the chief of police of the county where the person will reside, where their business is, or the person’s place of sojourn. For more information, visit http://www.hawaiipolice.com/services/firearm-registration
  3. MASSACHUSETTS—Massachusetts imposes harsh penalties on the mere possession and transport of firearms without a license to carry. Prospective travelers are urged to contact the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau at (617)660-4780 or the State Police at https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-firearms-laws for further information.
  4. NEW JERSEY—New Jersey some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the country. Your firearm must be unloaded, in a locked container and not accessible in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that anyone traveling within the state is deemed to be aware of these regulations and will be held strictly accountable for violations. Revell v. Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, 10-236
    If you’re traveling through New Jersey here is information from the New Jersey State Police regarding transporting firearms through the state: http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/about/fire_trans.html
  5. NEW YORK—Use extreme caution when traveling through New York with firearms.  New York state’s general approach is to make the possession of handguns and so-called “assault weapons” illegal. But the state provides exceptions that the accused may raise as “affirmative defenses” to prosecution in some cases.  NY Penal Code s. 265.20(12), (13) & (16).
    A number of localities, including Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Suffolk County, and Yonkers, impose their own requirements on the possession, registration, and transport of firearms. Possession of a handgun within New York City requires a New York City handgun license or a special permit from the city police commissioner. This license validates a state license within the city. Even New York state licenses are generally not valid within New York City unless a specific exemption applies. Such as when the New York City police commissioner has issued a special permit to the licensee. Or “the firearms covered by such license is being transported by the licensee in a locked container and the trip through the city of New York is continuous and uninterrupted.” Possession of a shotgun or rifle within New York City requires a permit, which is available to non-residents, and a certificate of registration.

Honorable Mention States

  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Rhode Island

If you have any other questions or concerns remember to call your Member Services Hotline at 877-448-6839.

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Tips for Purchasing Holsters for the Holidays

concealed carry stalling

Tis the season for holiday festivities and of course, gift giving. If a holster is on your list of items to purchase, you could be in for one hectic shopping experience. And the reason for this is that not all holsters are created equal. On the contrary, they take on many different shapes, styles, and colors. It’s no wonder that finding the right one can be a daunting process.

A simple Google search yields countless options within the categories above and that search is likely to cause even the most seasoned gun owners to think twice about which holster to purchase.

So, before we took to navigating the web to find the perfect holster, we asked ourselves a few questions and focused on some details to help us zero in on the perfect one.

By taking the time to focus on these details, we can assure you that you too can find the perfect holster for everyone on your shopping list this holiday season.

Know Your Gun and How You’re Carrying

The first thing you’ll want to consider is what type of gun you’re buying the holster for. Most holsters fit a specific type of gun and are not interchangeable. If you carry a .45 you will not want to look at a holster for a .380 and vice versa. There are some firearm models, such as Glock, that one holster will work for multiple models of guns. However, in most situations, the holster is molded for a specific model gun.

The next option you’ll want to know is how you, or the person the holster is going to, will be carrying. For someone carrying on their body, you will want to know which of a variety of ways a person prefers—inside waistband (IWB) or outside waistband (OWB), ankle, shoulder and for women the added bra or garter option. For the person carrying off their body, there are numerous options as well. Today, holsters are made to fit in a variety of places: purses, backpacks, day planners, iPad cases amongst other options.

Questions to Consider

Before purchasing your desired holster, it’s important, to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you prefer to carry inside or outside your waistband?
  • What position do you plan on carrying it in?
  • How do you plan on carrying your spare magazines?
  • How will your day-to-day attire affect your holster?

Three Words to Remember When Purchasing Holsters 

Once you’ve answered the above questions, focus on these three words.

Accessibility. Concealment. Comfort.

When purchasing a holster, you need to consider the accessibility it will lend you when you’re in need of your weapon. This all comes down to preference. However, proper positioning could mean more easy and direct access.

You will also need to consider concealment. For example, say you choose to wear an outside waistband holster. You’re at the grocery store and trying to reach for an item on the top shelf. As you go to reach for the item, your shirt lifts and displays your gun. A shopper next to you may see this and become alarmed. Depending on what state you reside in, this may or may not be an issue. We encourage you to turn to our Independent Program Attorneys who can provide you with state-specific information.

Finally, you need to consider comfort. Your holster will play a big role in your day-to-day life. You’ll want to think about what you’ll be doing throughout the day. Will you be working out? How will it fit into your clothes? Some holsters will add extra width to your waist line, so your perfect pair of pants may not fit with the holster.

From there, you can consider what type of material your holster is made from and what position it will be in on your person. Consider whether you will you be sitting or standing for long periods of time. This will determine whether you purchase a leather holster or a Kydex holster. The decision is yours, but we do suggest you consider all your options.

Where to Buy and Get Deals

There are many online and big-box retailers that sell holsters. There are a couple of things you will want to consider before making your purchase. Be sure to check the return policy from the company. We have all been in the situation where something may have the right feel in the store, but after a couple of days of use, you know the holster is not for you. Make sure you know if you can return the item.

Something else to ask a store, do they provide the option to rent and test equipment? If this option exists, it will give you the opportunity to confirm your feel of the holster and if it is the right fit for you.

Put Your Member Perks to Work!

With your new-found knowledge on concealed carry holsters, you can now successfully navigate the shopping centers this holiday season. And, if you’re a member of U.S. & Texas LawShield®, we encourage you to take advantage of your 2A friendly Member Perks.

Through our Member Perks Program, our Member Family can shop at local stores, eat at local restaurants, and shoot at local gun ranges. All businesses are 2A friendly and many offer discounts to our members, with a valid U.S. & Texas LawShield member card.

For more information on these great deals, simply log into the member portal. Visit the Member Perks section and select a category to view your options.

As always, if you don’t see a 2A friendly business on our list, let us know! Our Brand Ambassador, Germaine Baur will do her absolute best to secure these Member Perks for our ever-growing list. You can email her at gbaur@uslawshield.com

 

 

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