Christian D. Orr

Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He is also the author of the newly published book “Five Decades of a Fabulous Firearm: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Beretta 92 Pistol Series.”

By Gage Skidmore: Governor Gavin Newsom speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California.

Politics

The Second Amendment Has Been ‘Reborn’ in California

Miracles do still happen on occasion. Or, in the immortal words of sports broadcaster Al Michaels during the culmination of the USA Olympic hockey men’s...

Christian D. OrrOctober 28, 2023

The Gun Safe

Heckler & Koch (HK) VP9 9mm Range Report: Sweetest-Shooting Striker-Fired Pistol Ever?

Bottom line: this is the sweetest-shooting striker-fired 9mm pistol I’ve ever fired. Yes, more so than my Glock 19 or Glock 26.

Christian D. OrrOctober 27, 2023

Springfield Armory XD9. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Gun Safe

Springfield Armory XD9 9mm Range Review

Other Springfield gun reviews this week have covered .45 caliber, so I thought I would pivot to one of Springfield’s 9mm autopistols. Let’s talk...

Christian D. OrrOctober 26, 2023

Sig Sauer P320 X-Carry. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Gun Safe

SIG Sauer P320-XTEN 10mm Range Review: Great Gun or A Big ‘Misfire’?

One good 10mm Auto review deserves another. Likewise, one good SIG Sauer P320 autopistol review deserves another.

Christian D. OrrOctober 26, 2023

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 31, 2008) Photograph taken from a high-speed video camera during a record-setting firing of an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va., on January 31, 2008, firing at 10.64MJ (megajoules) with a muzzle velocity of 2520 meters per second. The Office of Naval ResearchÕs EMRG program is part of the Department of the NavyÕs Science and Technology investments, focused on developing new technologies to support Navy and Marine Corps war fighting needs. This photograph is a frame taken from a high-speed video camera. U.S. Navy Photograph (Released)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Military Is Bringing Back the Railgun

In essence, a railgun is a weapons system that uses electricity flowing between two parallel conductors to shoot a non-explosive projectile at high speeds...

Christian D. OrrOctober 26, 2023

Smith & Wesson Model 19. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Gun Safe

‘Magnum’ Guns for Women: A Bad or Smart Idea?

For the longest time, when one mentioned the subject of “ladies’ guns,” one thought of so-called “mouse guns,” i.e. pocket autopistols and mini-revolvers in...

Christian D. OrrOctober 25, 2023