embodiments camera assembly 104 also includes cable 506 enclosure 300 contains camera 110 a and is described in detail in fig3 and 4 beam 500 is a hollow beam or cylinder constructed from a rigid material such as metal plastic or a composite beam 500 is secured at a first end to enclosure 300 and at a second end to mounting fixture 502 in some embodiments beam 500 is disposed in a direction generally parallel to the barrel 84 of firearm 80 in some embodiments a direction generally parallel to the barrel 84 is a direction that is within one five or fifteen degrees of the direction of the barrel 84 beam 500 positions enclosure 300 near muzzle 82 of firearm 80 in some embodiments enclosure 300 is set back behind the muzzle 82 by a distance 504 to minimize the effect of muzzle flash and muzzle blast on enclosure 300 when firearm 80 is discharged in yet other embodiments the beam 500 is not included instead the enclosure 300 is secured directly to the mounting fixture because enclosure 300 is positioned near muzzle 82 of firearm 80 the user may use camera assembly 104 to see around obstructions while extending only a small portion of firearm 80 beyond the obstruction accordingly this minimizes the risk that the firearm or user 39 s hand will be grabbed by an adversary who is hiding beyond the obstruction mounting fixture 502 is an apparatus that attaches camera assembly 104 to firearm 80 in some embodiments mounting fixture 502 is configured to attach to a picatinny rail 86 such as with a thumbscrew or a hex screw in other embodiments mounting fixture 502 is configured to be removably attached to firearm 80 via other mechanisms such as a.