There are some races in which it would be best to come in last. Unfortunately, in perhaps the best example of such a race, St. Louis leads the pack. From the Associated Press:
St. Louis overtook Camden, N.J., as the nation's most dangerous city in 2009, according to a national study released Sunday.
The study by CQ Press found St. Louis had 2,070.1 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, compared with a national average of 429.4
Not a distinction to be proud of.
Prudent and responsible people will see this sobering news as new impetus (if such impetus were needed) to see to their ability to defend their families, their homes, and themselves from violent, predatory, criminal thugs. The very first St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner column, in fact, was about Ward 1 Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe's advice to his constituents to equip themselves for self-defense.
This advice was met with trepidation (to put it mildly) by Police Chief Dan Isom, who "worries that introducing even more guns into high-crime areas is a recipe for greater turmoil, not less." Well, I suppose so, Chief, if self-defense="turmoil." Personally, I see nothing wrong with peaceable armed citizens dispensing some well-deserved "turmoil" against violent, criminal thugs--I certainly see that as preferable to good citizens being subjected to the violence with no effective means of resistance. Chief Isom, though, says that armed self-defense is "not something I necessarily support."
On his blog, Chief Isom went into more detail, arguing that "the solution is not more guns." His argument seems to boil down to the assertion that to be safe from violent crime, one need only not be involved with crime (such as the illegal drug trade) oneself.
However, the things you can do to decrease your chances of becoming a crime victim have little to do with owning a gun. If you don't participate in illicit activities like drug use, and you don't associate with those who do, you dramatically decrease your chances of becoming a homicide victim.
Now I'm certain that Chief Isom isn't trying to cast aspersions on all the murder victims in St. Louis, by implying that they must have been involved in nefarious activity themselves, but if one or more of those victims had been loved ones of mine, I might be considerably less phlegmatic about it.
If Chief Isom's reaction to Alderman Troupe's advice was trepidation, Mayor Slay's was undisguised scorn and ridicule. In his blog post about the matter, he went so far as to send a not-too-subtle warning (some might call it a threat):
Since I know that someone will show this to the alderman, I add a word of caution. I have reminded the public safety director that City Hall is not exempt from the state’s concealed carry regulations, even for aldermen.
Spoken like one of Missouri's two "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" (keeping in mind that if most of these mayors had their druthers, most guns would be "illegal," including "unregistered" flintlocks).
St. Louisans, you don't need Mayor Slay's or Chief Isom's approval to take responsibility for the security of your family and yourself, but if that approval is not given as a matter of course, are you sure they belong in their current jobs?
See also:
Comments
In my personal opinion these are men who should be facing personal civil lawsuits for every death that is the result of a violent crime their police did not stop. Change the civil laws and make them culpable. Make the so-called public official defender as guilty as the criminal and thus suffer the same penalties. Criminals only look for those they feel are weaker than themselves and one measure of that is the ownership of guns. Criminals own guns and if the public does not then in their minds that means the public is weaker and therefore fair game for criminal activity. Why do you think criminals run from cops. It sure as the daylights isn't due to the flashy uniforms. It is because of the firepower they have you dummies. the public has the same right to the same firepower and the same right to protect their own lives if this life is what a criminal is going to steal. Let the criminal lose his life not the honest citizen. For the citizen who wants to gamble the criminal will not kill him or her to prevent identification it is their right not to own a gun. It is not their right to force that decision on someone who wants life more than they do and does not wish to increase the odds by going unarmed.
Oh the wisdom of the Mayor and the Police Chief! Sure they can say they are against citizens owning and carrying firearms. They have *armed* 24 hour protection, paid for by the citizens. They have the misconseption that they are *special*!
Mayor Slay says that St. Louis is a safe city. It is not and never has been. That is why I carry 24/7 and would not visit Mayor Slays city without my Kimber!
A citizen has just as much right to carry a firearm as the police do!
Chief Isom is a joke! Looking at his remarks, one can draw the conclusion that he is either A - blind, or B - retarded! I am disappointed, but not surprised to see mayor Slay's disparaging comments on the issue. If the city ever enacts gun control, I will no longer go anywhere in the city limits!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!