Gregory Kielma • November 27, 2024
Open Carry vs Concealed Carry
Open Carry vs Concealed Carry
Gregg Kielma
FFL-First Aid- First Responder Instructor-Firearms Instructor-Gunsmith
I have a license to CONCEAL carry.
Says, Kielma, “in jurisdictions where it means I can OPEN carry or in places where you need no permit to open carry, I do not openly carry my firearm. That’s my choice. It’s my plan and it works for me. Please remember always have a plan and execute if and when necessary.
That said I do wholeheartedly support open carry. If people want to open carry, and it’s the law, that’s ok with me. It helps desensitize people to people carrying guns. Perhaps it encourages bad guys considering bad things to go elsewhere. It also educates people who want to come up to them and talk about guns.
I absolutely prefer OPEN carry laws. In places where open carry is NOT legal, someone can call the cops if they think they saw your gun. For example, at Walmart reaching for an item on a top shelf and your shirt rides up and exposes the tip of the holster. Or perhaps they see an outline in your shirt (printing) and they call the cops because they can see your gun.
Example: A busy-body, non-gun person or a liberal democrat called the cops on me because I had a machine gun mounted on my Jeep. Turns out what they were referring to was my High Lift jack mounted to the roof rack. There problem was I did have an AR in a case because I’d been at the range. The case was behind the seat locked up and no one could possibly see it. I was initially detained, guns (my AR and carry pistol) confiscated, and seriously thought I was in a whole lot of trouble. The person who called the cops on me came over to gloat and proclaimed that they were the ones who called the cops. It was a good thing an evil gun owner was getting what they deserved. But then asked why they left the machine gun still mounted to my Jeep (which was being hooked up to a tow truck). The cops told her that they’d taken my guns already and she pointed out the jack. The cops then questioned her for a few minutes. They came over to me, got me out of the car, removed my cuffs and said I was free to go. I had to come to the police station to get my guns back the next day. As I was leaving, they were writing the woman a citation. She had to pay a $1500 fine.
Open carry laws prevent this type of issue. If my pistol accidentally shows, it’s still legal even though open carry is legal for me.
Says Kielma, “I choose not to openly carry. I conceal carry everywhere I can legally. I don’t have the temperament or tolerance for those who would challenge me or create drama. I conceal carry so I have the element of surprise in the event I was put in a life-threatening situation.
Example: Armed robbers stealing money from the cash register at Walmart. If in my subjective opinion they really aren’t a threat and they are going to run away after they get the cash, I could possibly choose to leave my gun right where it is, concealed in my holster. Let them run away totally unaware that I could have shot them both. That would be my choice because I had one. If openly carrying, the robbers may have seen my gun. Another bystander could say out loud “why don’t you stop them”.
I want the choice, and I want the advantage should I believe I needed to use lethal force to defend life.
Gregg Kielma
FFL-First Aid- First Responder Instructor-Firearms Instructor-Gunsmith
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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
