Preparedness

Armed Teen Carjacker Meets Match in Sotomayor’s Security Officers

Published

1 year ago

July 17, 2024

"Sonia Sotomayor & Mary M. Schroeder" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .

In a grave incident that unfolded recently, Deputy U.S. Marshals tasked with Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s security were forced to discharge their service firearms in response to an armed carjacking attempt. The event took place in the early hours of a past Friday, just outside Sotomayor’s residence in Washington D.C.’s Beauregard Condominiums complex.

The Marshals, situated in unmarked vehicles, were taken aback by the sudden appearance of an armed male suspect who emerged from a silver minivan around 1:15 a.m.

The suspect, brandishing a firearm, targeted a Deputy U.S. Marshal named only as “Black” in the reports. According to the Daily Mail, the suspect demanded Black’s vehicle. A chilling quote reflected the severity of the situation: “In most U.S cities, juveniles spend the summer hanging out with their friends, working summer jobs, visiting family members. In DC, juveniles carjack.”

Reacting to the threat, Black drew his service weapon and fired multiple shots at the suspect. One of these rounds reportedly hit the suspect in the mouth, causing significant injury but not posing a threat to his life.

A second Deputy Marshal was also involved in the incident, exiting his vehicle and discharging his firearm. Whether any of his shots connected with the suspect remains uncertain. After the altercation, Black provided first aid to the wounded suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers of Washington D.C.

Flowers was promptly transported to a nearby hospital to treat his non-life-threatening injuries. His apparent accomplice, however, did not remain at the scene. The silver van absconded northbound on 11th Street Northwest shortly after the shooting, as stated in a fact sheet filed in D.C. district court by Deputy U.S. Marshal Tyler Wells.

Despite efforts to locate the accomplice, the secondary suspect remains unidentified. Officers did recover a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson – the weapon allegedly used in the carjacking attempt. Thankfully, no Marshals were harmed in the face-off.

Flowers now faces charges of armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, and possessing a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device. Investigations around the incident are ongoing.

Interestingly, initial statements from the Metro PD about the Marshal-involved shooting omitted that it unfolded near Justice Sotomayor’s residence. As the Daily Mail reported, her D.C. condo is a two-bedroom, two-bath property valued at over $860,000.

Sotomayor had once compared her residential neighborhood to New York’s East Village. She told the New York Times, “It has a touch of the East Village in it… I picked it because it’s mixed. I walk out and I see all kinds of people, which is the environment I grew up in and the environment I love.”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s public information officer did not respond to Blaze News when asked for a statement regarding the incident.

Former D.C. official K. Denise Rucker Krepp, who previously worked under the Obama administration, expressed her exasperation at the ongoing violence involving juveniles in the district. Speaking to Blaze News, she stated, “Washington DC, the District of Crime, has a juvenile carjacking problem… As was demonstrated last Friday, no one is safe from juvenile carjacking in the nation’s capital.”

What is your view on privately employed security personnel carrying firearms, in light of the recent incident involving Justice Sonia Sotomayor's security in DC?

Private security officers should have the right to carry firearms for protection.

Gun use by private security should be restricted; they should rely on non-lethal methods.

Only law enforcement, not private security, should carry firearms.

There is a need for stricter background checks and regulations for private security carrying firearms.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source

Nature and Wildlife

10 Survival Skills You Should Learn Before You Need Them

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2025

Grits and Gear

These Everyday Skills Could Save Your Life Or Someone Else’s

When an emergency hits, it’s too late to start Googling. Whether it’s a power outage, car breakdown, unexpected hike gone wrong, or full-scale disaster, knowing what to do before chaos strikes is the difference between staying calm and spiraling. The good news? You don’t need military training or a bug-out bunker. You just need to learn these 10 core survival skills ahead of time and they’ll serve you in everyday life too.

1. Fire-Starting Without a Lighter

Being able to start a fire in wet or windy conditions is a skill that spans thousands of years and it still matters. Learn to use a ferro rod, flint and steel, or even a magnifying glass. Practice with damp tinder, and always carry some dryer lint or cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly.

2. Basic First Aid

Knowing how to stop bleeding, treat burns, or manage a broken bone is essential. Sign up for a CPR/first aid course you’ll gain life-saving knowledge and confidence. Bonus: it’s just as useful at a family BBQ as in a forest.

3. Navigation Without GPS

Batteries die. Satellites fail. Learn to read a paper map, use a compass, and find direction using the sun or stars. Even basic orienteering skills can get you out of a jam.

4. Knot-Tying for Real-World Use

The right knot can save your gear or your life. Know how to tie a bowline, square knot, and trucker’s hitch. These knots can help build shelter, secure loads, and make emergency repairs.

5. Water Purification and Collection

You can survive weeks without food but only 3 days without water. Learn how to boil, filter, or chemically treat water. Know where to find it in urban and wild environments, like rain catchment or condensation traps.

6. Shelter Building With Natural Materials

Even in a warm climate, exposure can be deadly. Practice building lean-tos, debris huts, or tarp shelters using branches, leaves, and cordage. A good shelter keeps you warm, dry, and protected from the elements.

7. Situational Awareness

Learn to scan your environment, trust your instincts, and notice small changes around you. Awareness prevents problems, whether it’s spotting a fire hazard, noticing someone following you, or avoiding dangerous terrain.

8. Cooking Without Electricity

Know how to cook over open flames, on a wood stove, or using solar ovens. It’s more than survival, it’s resilience. Start by learning to boil, grill, or bake without relying on modern conveniences.

9. Signaling for Help

If you’re stuck, you’ll need to be found. Learn how to use mirrors, flares, whistles, or even create large ground signals like “SOS” using rocks or logs. Understanding rescue priorities can make you easier to spot and faster to save.

10. Mental Resilience and Problem Solving

This is the quiet skill that holds it all together. Practice staying calm under pressure through breath control, visualization, or even journaling. In any crisis, your mindset determines whether you freeze… or adapt.

🧭 Final Thought

The best time to learn these survival skills is when you don’t need them. They aren’t just about extreme situations they teach self-reliance, confidence, and control. The more you know, the less you fear and the better prepared you’ll be when life throws the unexpected your way.

Nature and Wildlife

Everyday Items That Turn Into Life-Saving Tools

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2025

Grits and Gear

When disaster strikes, you don’t always have a survival kit, tactical knife, or fancy equipment on hand. But here’s the truth: most of what you need to stay alive might already be in your home, office, or even your pockets. Survival isn’t just about being tough it’s about being resourceful. And with a little creativity, ordinary objects can become extraordinary lifesavers.

1. Bandana – The Swiss Army Cloth

A simple bandana can do more than keep sweat off your neck. It can filter dirty water through layers of fabric, serve as a makeshift sling or bandage, and even protect your lungs from dust or smoke. Soak it in cool water to regulate your temperature, or use it as a flag to signal for help. If you don’t have one, a T-shirt or scarf can do the job.

2. Duct Tape – The Ultimate Fix-All

There’s a reason duct tape belongs in every emergency bag. It can patch holes in tents, mend broken shoes, and even seal wounds in a pinch (apply gauze first). Twist strips into rope or cord to build shelter or tie gear. It’s waterproof, strong, and takes up almost no space proof that survival is often about ingenuity, not gear.

3. Belt – From Fashion to Function

A sturdy belt can do more than hold up your jeans. In an emergency, it can become a tourniquet to slow bleeding, a strap to secure gear, or a way to climb or drag supplies. Leather belts also double as fire starters when scraped or used to create sparks with metal. Never underestimate what’s already wrapped around your waist.

4. Credit Card – Not for Shopping Anymore

That little piece of plastic can save your life in surprising ways. It can act as a scraper to remove ice, clean a wound, or smooth surfaces. In urban settings, it can even help unlock certain types of doors or windows in emergencies (though always within the law). It’s lightweight, flat, and unbreakable perfect for quick problem-solving.

5. Plastic Bottles – Hydration and Beyond

Plastic bottles can purify, store, and transport water. Cut the bottom off to make a funnel or plant container, or fill with water and leave in sunlight to disinfect it (solar disinfection works in about six hours of bright sun). Bottles can also serve as makeshift lanterns when filled with water and placed over a flashlight.

6. Trash Bags – Shelter in Disguise

A heavy-duty garbage bag is an unsung hero. With a few cuts, it becomes a rain poncho, sleeping bag liner, or emergency shelter. It can also collect rainwater or insulate against cold ground. Carry a few you’ll thank yourself later.

Final Thought

In a true emergency, the most valuable tool isn’t what’s in your hand it’s what’s in your head. Thinking creatively under pressure turns common items into life-saving gear. You don’t need to be a survivalist to survive; you just need to see the potential in what’s already around you.

Off The Grid

10 Foods That Could Save Your Life When Grocery Shelves Are Empty

Published

5 days ago

October 28, 2025

Grits and Gear

When disaster hits and grocery stores run out of stock, your survival depends on what’s already in your pantry. You don’t need fancy freeze-dried meals, just smart, long-lasting foods that keep you nourished, energized, and ready to adapt. Here are ten essentials that could literally save your life when everything else is gone.

1. Rice

A bag of rice can feed you for weeks. It’s compact, calorie-dense, and easy to cook with minimal fuel. Brown rice has more nutrients, but white rice stores longer, lasting up to 30 years in airtight containers.

2. Beans (Canned or Dried)

Protein and fiber are survival gold. Beans black, kidney, or lentils provide steady energy and can be eaten alone or combined with rice for a complete meal. Dried beans last longer, but canned beans are ready to eat if water or heat are limited.

3. Peanut Butter

High in calories, fat, and protein, peanut butter is one of the best survival foods on earth. It doesn’t need refrigeration and keeps for months after opening. A few spoonfuls a day can sustain you through hard times.

4. Oats

Oats require little water, cook fast, and provide long-lasting energy. They’re versatile—make oatmeal, energy bars, or add them to soups to stretch meals.

5. Canned Tuna or Chicken

Canned meats offer vital protein and omega-3s. They’re lightweight, long-lasting, and require no cooking. Rotate your stock every few years for freshness.

6. Honey

Honey never spoils. It can sweeten bland food, soothe a sore throat, and even treat wounds due to its natural antibacterial properties.

7. Powdered Milk

When fresh dairy is gone, powdered milk gives you calcium, protein, and essential vitamins. Mix with filtered water or use in cooking.

8. Salt

Salt preserves food, balances electrolytes, and adds flavor. In survival situations, it’s worth more than gold.

9. Canned Vegetables and Fruit

These provide hydration, vitamins, and variety. Drink the liquid inside it’s full of nutrients.

10. Energy or Protein Bars

Compact, lightweight, and packed with calories, they’re perfect for bug-out bags or quick energy during stressful moments.

Final Tip: Store your food in cool, dark places and rotate supplies regularly. When the shelves go bare, preparation turns panic into confidence and survival into just another day you’re ready for.