Ashley Hlebinsky is one of the foremost authorities on firearms and ammunition history in the world. Through The Gun Code, LLC, Hlebinsky serves as a consultant, overseeing history-related projects around the world.

She co-founded and serves as the Executive Director of the University of Wyoming College of Law’s Firearms Research Center, where she recently received nearly $1million from the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, she is a Founding Member of the Centre for the Study of Arms History in the UK and serves on the editorial board of Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms.

Hlebinsky has worked with other non-profits, such as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, Los Angeles Police Museum, National Museum of Law Enforcement and Organized Crime (The Mob Museum), and Houston Museum of Natural Science. Currently, she is building a new firearms museum in Manitoba, Canada. For a decade, Hlebinsky worked for and ran the most prominent firearms museum in the world, the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. During her tenure, she oversaw the full-scale $12million renovation of the museum, which reopened in 2019.

In addition to non-profits, Hlebinsky has worked with and advised for-profit companies such as Hindman Auctions, Colt CZ Group, Ruger, Staccato Firearms, Dillon Precision, and Daniel Defense. She has also been an expert witness in nearly 30 civil and criminal cases in the US and Canada.

Hlebinsky is a notable public figure, formerly co-hosting a show on the Discovery Channel and currently appearing on Outdoor Channel’s Gun Stories with Joe Mantegna (11 seasons) and Fox Nation’s Wanted: Dead or Alive with Sean Hannity. She has been an on-air personality, producer, and/or writer for networks such as National Geographic, History, Travel, Public Broadcasting Service, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and National Public Radio. In addition, she is a regular contributor for the popular podcast, Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb, which receives 8million downloads a month. She has been published over 200 times in popular and academic outlets.

Outside of her historical work, Hlebinsky is a mental health advocate, serving on the Board of Walk the Talk America, an organization that works with clinicians to better understand gun owners and reduce stigmas surrounding mental illness in the gun community, and Warrior Dog Spirit Foundation, a new organization that works to pair first responders with service dogs.

The Not Your Average Gun Girls Podcast hosted by Emily Valentine of Style Me Tactical and Amy Robbins of Alexo Athletica :

“We aren’t your average gun girls and want to bring you a podcast that mirrors the way we live our lives. We are self-reliant, stylish, and eager to inspire women to feel confident in defending themselves with a gun while also staying true to their lifestyle. We will be talking all things concealed carry to our favorite lipstick and everything in between. This podcast is intended to support and empower women and arm them with the right tools and education to be self-reliant and prepared to act in their own self-defense.”

In the Kids S.A.F.E.program, children are taught the basic safety rules that empower them to make safe and responsible decisions if they ever come across a unsecured firearm. While the foundation primarily does focus on the accident prevention side, they do follow up classes at local ranges to reinforce the important safety principles that they teach with rimfire rifles. This gives kids the knowledge and confidence that they need to hopefully never have a accident. You can find out more information about their programs on their website kidssafefoundation.org .  ZERO Firearm Accidents is the only acceptable goal!!

Kids S.A.F.E. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based out of Eugene, Oregon.

Drew Berquist is the Editor-in-Chief for OpsLens.com and the host of CRTV‘s Experience Matters with Drew Berquist. Previously, he served as a counterterrorism officer for the United States Intelligence Community, where he performed more than thirty deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Drew served as a counterterrorism officer and senior intelligence consultant for the United States Intelligence Community, where he performed more than thirty deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan to conduct operations.  He received specialized training from multiple intelligence agencies, including the CIA, DIA and NSA.

Berquist speaks to audiences and comments on national security and political matters.  He has been a guest on FOX and Friends, Lou Dobbs, Dennis Miller and a number of other shows throughout the country. Follow Drew and his staff of Veteran contributors on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpsLens or on Twitter at @OpsLens.

OpsLens.com provides daily print and video commentary on the world’s most trending and critical stories related to national security, public policy and other matters of state through the lens of experience.

The OpsLens staff of contributors is comprised of former intelligence, law enforcement and military operators that have more than 100 deployments to both conventional and hostile areas around the globe performing counterterrorism, counterdrug, counterintelligence, traditional espionage and other unique operations.  Our team brings experience from the CIA, DIA, FBI, NSA and the United States military, to include Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy Seals and Marines to name a few. Additionally, the OpsLens staff includes former diplomats, politicians and industry leaders who understand the inner-workings of some of the world’s most difficult problems.

Karen Hunter, Freelance Writer/Senior Editor/Firearms Instructor, Senior Range Officer at Force Options Tactical Training and Security

Karen says of herself, “I am a contributor to several national magazine publications, both digital and print. I am a Firearms Instructor and strong 2A advocate with a passion to help people understand how and why they should carry. And, I am a lifelong student with a teachable spirit.”