Magical Thinking: Gun-Free 'Sensitive Places'
Laws Only Endanger the Law-Abiding

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. …