With many of today's headlines telling the heartbreaking stories of gun violence and mass murders in the U.S., questions about when and where tragedy will strike next are becoming common everyday conversations.

But those conversations -- at home, in schools and throughout the workplace -- are important to ensure that people remain aware and vigilant in protecting themselves and those they love.

Updated information on anti-Second Amendment bills in the 2013 Colorado Legislature:

We can expect 14 to 20 anti-gun bills. The current Democrat package includes:

● A ban on an undetermined number of semi-automatic firearms (No grandfather clause)
● A ban on magazines of over ten rounds (No grandfather clause).
● Making an individual with a violent misdemeanor a "prohibited person" re: gun ownership.
● A ban on private sales by requiring universal background checks.
● A waiting period on background checks that will kill gun shows.

OPSGEAR® and the Utah Shooting Sports Council (USSC) are hosting a "Safe to learn. Safe to teach TM" and want to help all school employees better protect themselves and their students. They are offering a FREE Concealed Carry (CCW) Class and Mass Violence Response Training on Dec. 27th, 2012. In light of the recent tragedy in Connecticut, controversy has been brewing about arming teachers. In Utah teachers with a conceal carry permit can already carry firearms into classrooms.

The threat of insider attacks in Afghanistan is very real. In the past year, 14 percent of coalition casualties resulted from attacks by Afghan National Security Forces or by infiltrators posing as ANSF. At the 162nd Infantry Brigade, training advisors to prevent these incidents is taken seriously.

What is the first thing you think of when you hear about someone being injured in combat? Perhaps it’s a gunshot wound, burn injuries, severe head trauma, or even an amputation.

Sergeant Michael Pressler, an artillery mechanic aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., along with countless other service members suffer from something different. It is something that will affect them for the rest of their lives and is the number one injury in combat, according to Michelle Wolfe, an occupational health nurse aboard MCLB.

The Army recently announced that the M2A1 .50 Caliber Machine Gun was among its top 10 "Army Greatest Inventions" for the 2011 calendar year.

The M2A1 includes new modern features and design improvements that make it easier and safer to use, including a quick change barrel, fixed headspace and timing, and a new flash hider that reduces the weapon's signature by 95 percent at night.

"The M2A1 builds upon the legend of a phenomenal weapon system," said Lt. Col. Thomas Ryan, Product Manager Crew Served Weapons.

Israel's Iron Dome missile shield appears to be passing its first major test, stopping hundreds of Gaza rockets from hitting Israeli communities in recent days. But that test also has revealed several weaknesses in the year-old U.S.-backed system.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that Iron Dome has intercepted at least 389 rockets since Israel began its offensive against Gaza militants November 14. An Israeli defense official said that figure represents at least 80 percent of all Gaza rockets targeted by the system over the period.

‘Impressive’ Results

Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan conducted reflexive fire marksmanship training at Training Support Activity-Korea, Nov. 15.

The 20 Soldiers partaking in the training were tasked with firing their M16's while in motion. The training allowed Soldiers of HHC, USAG Yongsan to raise overall readiness and combat effectiveness.