Father’s Day?

by
posted on June 13, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Your father was probably the one who got you started in shooting, yet you’re trolling the bargain bins in discount stores this week, hoping to find something inexpensive that will satisfy his insatiable appetite for dust-collecting knickknacks. My father’s attic was home to two-dozen Chia pets, an uneaten five-pound gummy bear and a pet rock collection currently the subject of a U.S. Geological Survey all-points-bulletin. All were misguided gifts for the avid outdoorsman and shooter.

Help break this tragic trend by giving dad something firearm related—even if it is a little tongue in cheek—this Father’s Day. There’s still hope, and with expedited shipping we have the time to stop this vicious cycle.

I’d tell you to score some ammo, but right now that’s not even funny. Plus Dad probably has some pet loads, so let’s take a look at what’ll really make him smile on Sunday.

Does he have a handgun with an accessory rail? With this year’s cicada invasion, there’s no telling how many of the noisy buggers will bunker up for 17 more years in the petunias. There’s only one solution and it’s the cicada’s worst nightmare—LaserLyte’s Pistol Bayonet.

Do you remember the family vacation when dad had chili dogs with extra onions for lunch at Truth or Consequences, N.M., and it seemed like a scene from the 24 hours of Le Mans before you reached the Springfield, Mo., hotel? Hang a Hoppe’s Air Freshener in the old family wagon, and heal the decades-old scars.

Maybe dad has been looking a little fatigued lately. If that’s the case, pick up some Thor Global Defense Group Tactical Energy drink.

After a long day at the range, there’s no reason he should struggle when opening bottles of his favorite beverage. Get him a LaRue Tactical Beverage Entry Tool Dillo. I have three strategically staged throughout the house for emergency response and they stand upright, at attention, as if eager for their next perilous mission.

Heck, score him some zombie targets. Post your own selections in the comments section and we might just stop the vicious cycle of abandonment that has seen this celebration become a financial boon for tie, chia, shoe and rock salesmen.

Don’t misconstrue this blog post as yet another feeble attempt at humor. It’s not meant to be funny. It’s a reminder that every year, in a misguided effort to please dad, we blindly hand our hard-earned cash over to companies that may actually oppose firearm ownership, when there’s dozens of small and inexpensive items from gun companies he would love to receive on Sunday. They probably won’t produce any chuckles, but you can’t go wrong with gun oil, cleaning solution, bore brushes, mops, rods, patches and just about everything related to cleaning and maintenance. Ammo would be good, but the last time I checked the Holy Grail was still missing, too.

Whatever you do, get him something related to what he enjoys. Don’t be lazy and buy your father a dust-collecting gizmo recommended by a self-proclaimed Internet expert. Oh, wait a minute.

Happy Father’s Day! Get out there and make it a great one.

Latest

Appendix-Carry
Appendix-Carry

An Appendix-Carry Primer

Although appendix inside-the-waistband carry of a defensive handgun has become increasingly popular, it remains controversial among some concealed carriers. Here, an AIWB practitioner outlines its pros and cons.

Favorite Firearms: A Hero’s War Trophy Returns

My father, Kenneth Cuddeback, graduated from high school in West Chester, Iowa, in 1942 and started at Iowa State University in the fall. When two of his high school friends were going to get drafted, he quit college to join the Army.

Remington Sporting Clays Fundraiser Raises Nearly $20K for Children’s Hospital

Remington Ammunition's fourth annual Shoot To Cure sporting clays fundraiser raised thousands of dollars for the Arkansas Children's Hospital, and the company's Gun Club Cure line of shotshells helps to raise even more.

“Every Marine A Rifleman”

Founded 250 years ago, in November of 1775, the United States Marine Corps has become one of the most elite fighting forces on Earth and has made use of a unique pantheon of arms befitting its status.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 10, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Gunsite To Celebrate NRA’s 154th Birthday

To celebrate the National Rifle Association’s 154th birthday on Nov. 17, 2025, the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club (YARC) of Prescott, Ariz., will continue its tradition of a special radio callout while operating from Gunsite Academy’s 3,000-acre campus north of the city.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.