Gregory Kielma • September 19, 2025
“Sensitive Places” Embolden Criminals and Threaten the Law-abiding
“Sensitive Places” Embolden Criminals and Threaten the Law-abiding
Monday, September 15, 2025
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A beyond horrific murder flashed before our eyes in recent weeks, and a nation collectively mourned Iryna Zarutska after the sickening attack that took her life on a public train in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was yet another stark reminder that evil strikes quickly, and it can happen at any time, in any place (particularly when, as in the case of the Charlotte suspect, the legal system appears incapable or unwilling to incapacitate repeat offenders).
Because of that very fact, the law-abiding citizens who choose to carry firearms for self-defense in public are again left frustrated by imaginary boundaries that continue to limit their ability to defend themselves. Firearm prohibitionists argue, “The presence of guns make places more dangerous.” Wrong. Bad people make places more dangerous. And some places may be more likely to attract or accommodate bad people than others, not the least of which are public transportation facilities, including subway stations, bus stops, etc.
If citizens cannot count on courts or policymakers to prioritize their safety, they are left to their own devices when situational awareness is simply not enough. Rules that restrict an individual’s right to bear arms for self-defense advantage criminals, and as public officials dither, lives are in danger.
NRA has often reported on the safety ills of the NYC subway system, even documenting that it was deemed contractually too dangerous for former New York Giants Quarterback, Eli Manning.
Recall that in the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Heller v. District of Columbia, it was noted that the Second Amendment’s protection of an individual right to keep and bear arms did not cast doubt on the validity of “laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.” However, Justice Clarence Thomas in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen later warned that the expansion of “sensitive places” beyond historical precedents is unconstitutional:
[E]xpanding the category of “sensitive places” simply to all places of public congregation that are not isolated from law enforcement defines the category of “sensitive places” far too broadly. [New York’s] argument would in effect exempt cities from the Second Amendment and would eviscerate the general right to publicly carry arms for self-defense...”
Justice Thomas’s warning continues to be ignored.
Just last week, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled in Schoenthal v. Raoul, a case out of Chicago in which NRA-ILA filed an amicus brief, that broad limits on self-defense can continue.
The Chicago Transit Authority and Illinois state law prohibit carrying firearms on public transit. The Seventh Circuit, in reversing an earlier district court ruling, held that the Second Amendment “does not bar the people’s representatives from enacting laws-consistent with our nation’s historical tradition of regulation—that ensure public transportation systems remain free from accessible firearms.”
Not only is carrying firearms in public for self-defense clearly covered by the plain text of the Second Amendment, there is no historical tradition of banning firearms on public transit, even though forms of it existed in the Founding era. The Seventh Circuit essentially admitted as much, when it asserted: “We are in the project of comparing regulations, not places.” Then, “reasoning” from mid to late 19th Century bans on places like “ball[s] and fandango[es],” the court came up with a broad rule that firearm prohibitions in “in crowded and confined places” are presumptively permissible.
This tendency of courts to stretch historical analogies on “sensitive places” far past their breaking point is leaving far too many people in vulnerable locations to be victimized. Judge Kolar writes that the “sensitive places doctrine tells us that the appropriate balance allows for temporary restrictions in scattered discrete places where the risk is simply different…” The risk on public transit is indeed different. These places are inherently more dangerous and call for even more accommodation for self-defense rights. No one in the Founding era thought the solution to robberies of stage coaches and trains was to ban passengers from carrying guns.
Judge Kolar is concerned about the people’s representatives being able to ensure “public transportation systems remaining free from accessible firearms,” yet the people’s representatives are doing precious little to ensure the transportation systems remain free of violent criminals.
Public transportation in Chicago, in fact, is about as “insensitive” a place as exists in public life. According to a 2024 study done by the Illinois Policy Institute, over 1 in every 100,000 Chicago Transit Authority rides resulted in a crime. That’s about 1 crime every 3 hours, considering 765,566 rides per weekday on average. About 45% of all crimes reported at CTA stations result in an arrest, according to analysis of city data, meaning criminals have a better than even chance of getting away with their predations. And those are just the crimes that get reported. Many more do not, as few victims expect justice.
Daily there are headlines nationwide featuring the safety hazards of public transit. Attacks are often random. Carrying a gun on Chicago public transportation is illegal, but so are assaults, thefts, and harassment. Gun owners are obeying the law, but Chicago criminals are not.
Violence prevention and mental healthcare sometimes pose complex questions, but the self-defense part of the equation is simple: the need can arise wherever a person happens to be. Rulings like the one from the Seventh Circuit demonstrate the continued work needed to fend off ever-expanding “gun-free zones” that, like the may-issue permitting condemned by the Supreme Court, make carry the exception, rather than the rule.
Simply put, “sensitive places” show an insensitivity to the Second Amendment and the lives of the people it is meant to protect.
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Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
