The recent rash of shootings here -- several in April and May, 11 in June, and two already this month -- understandably stir concern that gun violence is not only out of control, but that it is becoming normative behavior for urban gang members that the police seem ill-equipped to thwart. That is perhaps most apparent in the troubling number of young teenagers involved.
The two most recent shootings, for example, both involved 15-year-olds, and possibly gangs, or personal disputes with gang members. In the latest incident, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest and critically wounded at 2 a.m. on July 5 in a parking lot in the 300 block of Walnut Street. He was among a group of youths in the parking lot when the shooter opened fire from a car that had circled the group.
The second youth was shot and killed by a Chattanooga Housing Authority policeman on July 1 when he allegedly turned in a side-stance to fire his pistol at the officer, police said. The officer reportedly was chasing him and another youth across East Lake Courts, a housing project off Fourth Avenue, after hearing shots fired. A HA surveillance camera, police said, showed that the victim had just fired at a black During car before turning to run across the housing project grounds.
Earlier shootings in June involved apparent score settling by gang members. One shooting, off Bonny Oaks Drive, resulted in a stray bullet shattering a window in an adjacent residence and lodging in the wall a foot above the bed of a teenage girl.
Police, prosecutors and community officials and activists are well aware of the gun violence and deeply concerned about the impact. Prosecutors meet regularly with city police officers who track gang violence in a continuing effort to hone strategies to inhibit violence.
Still, there is a prevailing and reasonable sentiment among some that any solution to gun violence requires a strategy far broader than law enforcement activities alone, particularly with regard to gang-related issues and attitudes. "Why," asks one official rhetorically, "would a kid join a gang when he knows he is going to end up either dead or in jail?"
His question gets to the core of the issue. Youngsters who grow up in poverty and on tough streets are too often reared in a void without credible father figures, effective parental control or strong community institutions to guide them. Such at-risk youth may be easily caught up in circumstances that make them feel forced to join a gang for mutual protection. Then they may feel compelled to participate in, yet inured to, the hazards of violence, drugs and guns.
It's a potent and lethal combination that leads to turf protection, gang-related violence, and extreme sensitivity to the seeming weakness of succumbing to slights and disrespect. At that point, shooting someone in response to being disused, or disrespected, is more plausible than improbable.
Gun use is aggravated, as well, by easy access to guns, and the macho image of acquiring and using sophisticated weapons, i.e., Lock 9-mm and .45-caliber SIG semiautomatic pistols. Such guns, and a slew of others, are easily available to street dealers through want-ads and wide-open gun-shows, which are not governed in most states by rules requiring identification and background checks like those that are mandatory under federal law for purchases in licensed gun shops.
In fact, the absence of uniform federal rules over gun-show and ad sales -- opposed by the NRA-promoted gun lobby -- is the singled biggest loophole in gun control laws. The next biggest gaps include the absence of limits on the number of guns that individuals may legally buy in a month from licensed dealers, and the myopic prohibition against using legal dealers' gun-sales records to track and restrain the activity of illegal street dealers.
Local governments, to be sure, cannot not rely alone on better policing and stricter gun laws to deal with rising gun violence. Community and government efforts are needed to establish stronger community institutions, parental coaching and education programs against gun violence. Schools, churches and youth-oriented organizations have learned to campaign against drug abuse and teen pregnancy. They must also lead the way in fighting gun violence and the tendency of youngsters to seek social safe havens in gangs and guns.
For a city that now prides itself on a downtown renaissance and an economy primed to swell with a new auto manufacturing industry here, Chattanooga's city government cannot -- and should not -- wait on some other community organization to tackle the idea of gun violence. It's a problem we've already neglected too long, and it will only worsen as more time passes if the city's leadership does not step- up now.
Our brilliant state legislation kept their special interest commitments by passing all these gun bills then tossed the responsibility and liability over to the bars, restaurants and city governments.
"Our brilliant state legislation kept their special interest commitments by passing all these gun bills then tossed the responsibility and liability over to the bars, restaurants and city governments."
Your comment has nothing to do with the above article. Gangs and teens using weapons did not acquire these weapons legally and carry them to intimidate and murder. Its a nice try to connect the two but in the end the argument does not work. We have police which should be stepping up their patrols of these known hot spots. The same part of town has always had a problem. You saturate the area with cops and you take a zero tolerance with these punks and thugs. The typical middle aged, tax paying, working males that legally and responsibly carry a concealed weapon are not the problem.
A gun was the answer for the jewelry salesman in Memphis yesterday
Throughout history, cultures of violence and cultures of honor have thrived in areas where the law enforcement has been weak.
In the rural South and in the West, a man's honor and reputation was defended vigorously. Similarly disrespect is combatted the same way in modern urban areas where the law is weak.
As impoverished communities grow, the task of effectively policing these areas becomes tougher.
There is no one solution that will correct this problem in these neighborhoods. It will take internal pressures from the communities involved, plus economic prosperity and a large police presence to increase the safety of these citizens.
Hand guns are designed for a single purpose,to kill humans.Nobody buys a hand gun to hunt deer or squirrels.Rising hand gun ownership is inversely proportional to our level of civility.Given that reality,we can use hand gun ownership rates as a barometer to measure American societal progress.The trend is clear,which would indicate that America is becoming a meaner country.
You can believe in the 2nd Amendment and still oppose hand guns.Hand guns are clearly bad for America's health.
"Hand guns are designed for a single purpose,to kill humans"
I guess my handgun is malfunctioning since it's fired thousands of rounds and never killed anything but paper. Have to return it to the factory for repairs - something is obviously wrong with it. By the way, it also participates in the barbaric custom of hunting (but only under my direct supervision).
Sailorman
You may use your hand gun for target practice and game hunting,but surely you don't contend that is what it was designed for?
I contend it doesn't matter.
Sailorman
It doesn't matter that a hand gun designed primarily to kill humans is proliferating throughout our society?We are no longer a frontier society,if one thinks hand guns are part of making America better,then someone's analysis needs review.
Education is more powerful than any weapon you can buy.Hand guns have the power to kill,but not to make life better.
I contend that it doesn't matter that a gun was designed to kill. So was a sword and a bow and arrow.
"Education is more powerful than any weapon you can buy" That I agree with. Let me know when criminals are sufficiently educated to to choose another path.
"Hand guns have the power to kill,but not to make life better."
Hand guns have the power to protect as well. As to whether they make life better, that depends on your perspective. Anybody who has used one in self defense (Memphis jewelry salesman) are better off - they're not dead.
Fear is the reason for the guns, whether legal or illegal guns.
The way to stop the guns and disarm people to to remove the fear. Brave men and women have no interest in carrying a gun. Fearful men and women do.
Fifteen year old black boys who carry an illegal gun are afraid of bigger, meaner boys. Fifty year old white men who carry a legal gun are afraid of shadows.
About the only part you may have gotten right is the bit about 15 year old boys (regardless of race) The rest is your opinion and my opinion is that it's hogwash.
Hero stories like the one Sailorman are frequently reported. The jewelry salesman wasn't even the only one in Tennessee this week.
Why are stories of permit holders getting killed or shot not reported?
Is that not sensational enough - ie no dog bites man angle? Media bias? Or is it just a rare event? Generally, news outlets favor rare events.
Does it never happen?
I think reporting only the one side does create a false sense of security for the safety of permit holders.
Come on moonpie - you're really reaching. I don't recall seeing frequently reported "hero stories". In fact, the jewelry salesman is the first one I've seen in a while. Do you actually believe the NFP wouldn't trumpet it to the heavens if an HCP holder got killed? I can see it now "HCP holder killed in spite of permit". Reporting one side creates a false sense of something but I don't think it's security. The media does everything it can to foster fear of guns and those who own them. How many pro-gun articles have you seen in this newspaper in the last several months? None? How many have you seen about how dangerous life will if guns are permitted in - name your place. Same cr*p different day. Blood will run in the streets as a result of carry permits - has NEVER happened - NEVER - any where anytime. This has been hashed, hashed, and rehashed and I'm tired of it. People will believe what they want regardless. Take a look at alprova's comment at 1:35 on the thread under Bennett's current anti-gun cartoon. BTW that's two anti pieces in just today's NFP. Unibased media - phooey. Sorry for the rant. Have a great evening.
I guess I was wondering why the lefty media didn't report that Steve L. McNair was a permit holder and his girlfriend was not.
Personally, I don't think it's news, because his permit had nothing to do with why he was killed (I don't think.)
But you can't say that they have scrambled to report this. In fact, I haven't seen it in any media outlet anywhere.
Then again, perhaps it's not news.
On a personal note, Sailorman, even though we disagree on many things. I enjoy your posts, and I learn a thing here and there, too.
You have a good night, too.
Still stuck at work :( Moonpie - thank you for the compliment. It means more coming from a thoughtful person (even though we disagree a lot) :)
To your question - just my opinion of course but
McNair was asleep when he was shot. There just isn't any good way to spin the HCP issue there.
On the other hand, the GF had no permit therefore no mileage there either. If the GF had had a permit, I think it's a safe bet we would have heard about it. We did hear that she purchased the gun legally. I would bet we'll soon see articles about "tightening gun purchase laws, waiting periods" etc
Sailorman, I think you're absolutely right about that.
I want to know how she bought a handgun if the girl that killed McNair was only 20? It must have not been thru a licensed dealer.
From the Tennessean
"On Thursday, several hours after her DUI arrest, she was in the parking lot in the middle of her shift at Dave & Buster's buying a gun. She got it for $100 from a man she tried to sell her Kia to unsuccessfully"
It was a private sale. Legal age to own a firearm is 18. I would hope the police have talked to the guy that sold it to her. Be interesting to know where he got it.
We only have two options:
Only bad guys have guns
Both bad guys and good guys have guns
Bad guys not having guns is not an option. So I vote for 2.
Had this woman( abc news today) in Tazwell, Tn had a gun handy when two intruders broke in looking for drugs, there would probably been at least one person dead, maybe her. As it goes she took care of the situation with a broom, bowl of chili and few other items handy nearby. I think all us brave folks who think a gun is always the answer could take a lesson or two from her.
Am I the only one that noticed, When the serial killer was on the loose in Gaffney SC, The citizens interviewed, were carrying their Guns on their person. None mentioned they were carrying the phone # to the local police dept.When an immediate danger is present it changes they way people think. I'm sure those who are so against permit holders carrying a weapon would surely change their mind if they suddenly found themselves staring down the muzzle of a gun.
Or login with:
New Account