If This Doesn't Scare You, Kansas City--and America--Nothing Will

From the national news, ABC, this week.


Isn't that marvelous?

This is what the National Rifle Association, the NRA, and the Right Wing and Republican policies all get us. That is, guns. Lots and lots of guns. More than any other otherwise civilized, educated, industrialized nation in the world.

Kudos, America.

Now.

What are we going to do about it?

What the gun people don't get

Just another day in grossly unfair, unjust, even murderous America

Check out last evening's news:

Texas 'sovereign citizen' sets dumpster fire,reports self missing to set up police ambush

So in our recent past few weeks, we've had the following take place in this country:

1. AK-47 fired at cops, arson and smoke bombs - STILL ALIVE
2. Hold a BB gun at Walmart - DEAD
3. Unarmed 18-year-old jaywalker - DEAD

Guess which two, of the above, were black.

Mayor James' first priority--hopefully

Sure, the next mayor of Kansas City, Sly James, will have all kinds of things that need attention.

There's the budget and trying to impart that he'll be a person who can work with others (something we haven't been used to) and possibly looking for East side development somehow and maybe, maybe trying to finance a 1,000 room downtown hotel to increase conventions in town but...

Mayor James' first priority should be, I think, to try to reduce the number of shootings and killings in town.

Without doubt, to me, and maybe lots of other people.

He needs to do what hasn't been done--that is, call together his own office, the City Council members and then all the community and church leaders in the area who can and should be involved with this so we can shut down the senseless shootings that happen, year after year in this city.

They're already starting, as we know, and as we get closer to warm weather.  Here's just the latest, this from the Star:

Teen killed in 'rolling gun battle' identified (see link below)

I would contend that the shootings and murders that take place annually in the Kansas City metropolitan area are the biggest concern to and for this city, its government and the people of this city, without doubt and beyond anything in front of us at this time, this year, in fact.

Hopefully it will be the top priority on Mr. James' agenda.

The last guy in that office just ignored it--until election time--and then gave it lip service.

We need far more now, from this new mayor.

Here's hoping we get it.


And sooner, rather than later.

Link to original post:  

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/27/2756328/teen-killed-in-rolling-gun-battle.html

Yet another senseless death

If you read The Kansas City Star today, you can predict my column.

Bystander slain as bullets fly in gun battle

"A stray bullet from a rolling gun battle killed an bystander on his porch Tuesday night in Kansas City.

The man was struck about 8:10 p.m. when two groups of young men were shooting at one another while running south on Wayne Avenue between 35th and 36th streets."

Broad daylight murder, one more time.

I ask again: Where is the outrage at and from City Hall? The Mayor? The City Council? The Councilperson who represents this district? What is the Police Department's reaction? What is the Police Department doing to prevent this, if anything, now? Can the Police Department propose any solutions to prevent this kind of insanity?

However, I'm also going to ask, what is this community doing to prevent this kind of nonsense?

"Officer Darin Snapp, a police spokesman, said there were several witnesses to the shooting, but few were willing to give statements to police."

If you can't help yourself, it is much less likely anyone is going to help you.

Taking that further, if you won't help yourself, why should anyone intervene to do so?

___________________________________________________
If you know anything about who did this, please contact the Kansas City Crimestoppers TIPS Hotline at (816)474-TIPS. If you would rather not contact this source, contact Alonzo Washington at omega7toys@aol.com) or call him at(913)321-6764.

Link to full story:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1378314.html

Addendum:

I'd like to quote someone but unfortunately they left this under "Anonymous" on another blog (Tony's KC):

"When the decent inner city people (and yes, most are) decide it is time to take back the streets from the thugs, it will be ugly but that is the only way to fix it."

Someone explain to me why this isn't true.

And this quote from Tony himself:

"...I'm certain there will be a meaningless press conference on the subject from local politicos as soon as a few more bodies turn up on local streets in rapid succession. August is a horrible month for KC murders and even worse for empty promises from elected officials."

That is absolutely not what we're needing or wanting from downtown, by any means.