Monday, February 20, 2012

Shots Fired Into Downtown Business and This Wasn't Huge News?

Someone fired shots into a jewelry store on Main Street last week and it didn't really make that much of a splash in the media, surprisingly.  Local 12 did a story on it, but I didn't see much else on it.

It appears it may be gang related, so it wasn't random.  The business in question, Main Street Jewelry, comes across as a store catering to a style often associated with gangs. Having a "Gold Teeth $13.99" sign stenciled in lettering on the window points to that.

This type of crime is very difficult to deal with, as witnesses and victims are often either scared to testify or are involved with a gang themselves.  It has the earmarks of an intimidation actions or maybe an initiation for another idiot.  It is very dishearten to see this happen in Downtown.  I am glad to hear the police up front about this and I hope they do take a look at some of the clientele, who according to the report appear to also be in gangs.  This unfortunately will likely not get a big penalty for the shooter, assuming he is caught.  The state of the justice system will render this criminal to the bottom of the pile, since he hasn't killed anyone yet.  When (not if) he does, then he'll get the full weight of the law.  This type of reality is not something that works for our society.  Joe Deters should be holding press conferences about that fact and stop wasting people's times with other political antics.

I am also just so surprised that this hasn't gotten anyone to make a statement. Smitherman is silent on this, but so are the City-Haters, so I'm perplexed.

4 comments:

  1. "A style often associated with gangs?"

    Really? You really might want to reconsider your phrasing because, I'll be honest, that's the kind of thinly veiled prejudice that seems more in place with those who live a "it's either this or that" life. I mean, if the chief of police or a politician said something like this, you'd be upset and calling it for what it is.

    I'm not calling you a racist, but you can do better than this.

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  2. I am missing your point, are you unhappy with language I used or the fact that I mentioned the story or what spwcifically?

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  3. My complaint was in the language you chose. Far too many people jump to conclusions when they see someone, especially a younger African-American or of Hispanic/Latino descent person, wearing, for lack of a better term, hip hop fashion. Conclusions are drawn as to that person's potential for criminal intent when it's just the fashion worn by many of all races, criminal and law abiding. Basically, that sentence really didn't need to be in there. It just reinforces the stereotype.

    Like I said, I don't think that was your intent at all, but it sort of reads that way. Sorry that I was unclear.

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  4. Since when is it taboo to associate gang culture with gangs? Gold teeth are associated with gang culture.

    Let's also try to distinguish between gangs and black people. Gangs are an alternative for *any* kind of person who is caught in poverty and lack of opportunity. Notice, the article doesn't mention anyone's race. Gangs are a poverty problem.

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Don't be an idiot or your comment will be deleted.