At some point, the Town of Mammoth Lakes will no longer enjoy non-stop police coverage. Mammoth Police Chief Dan Watson laid out his plan in response to the Town Council demand that he cut seven officers. The Council most recently described their desire as a $1.1 million cut in the police department with service maintained.
When Chief Watson spoke at the January 2nd Town Council meeting, he pointed out that the only thing that could be cut to realize a $1.1 million savings is personnel which makes up about 75% of the department budget. The only thing that could change this scenario, he said, is the Police Officers Association agreement to take more salary cuts. This, on top of a 16% wage cut officers agreed to take six months ago.
Chief Watson said he has already withdrawn from the Mono Narcotics Enforcement Team and has cut the School Resource Officer to part-time. In the wake of discouraging news about the police department, one sergeant and three officers have either retired or gone to another department. Still others are being processed for jobs elsewhere. By July, the Chief said, the wished for seven positions will be gone.
Currently, 17 sworn officers maintain coverage of two people at all times and four at night in Mammoth. Under the new cuts, the Chief recommended two ten-hour shifts from 7am to 3am with no one on duty from 3am to 7am. To respond to major incidents during that time, the Chief said they need on-call officers. Chief Watson said, “We will not respond to incidents in the middle of the night that don’t involve public safety.”
Police will not respond to vandalism, loud parties and misdemeanor crimes. They will respond to major traffic accidents, DUI accidents and domestic violence. He said they will curtail the foot beat in the Village, cancelled the DARE program in addition to a limited School Resource Officer and no narcotics enforcement task force involvement. Police will not respond to second alarm or burglar alarm calls, said the Chief. They will limit their assistance to fire and paramedic calls.
Police used to drive drunks home when they could and help people out of snow banks. That will not happen as often. Chief Watson said it will take officers a longer time to respond to non-emergencies. The Chief made it clear he has worked to reduce negative impacts on the public with his limited budget. He has spoken with heads of other law enforcement in the region. They can not fill in for Mammoth’s lack of officers but will continue with some mutual aid.
Chief Watson also made it clear that a reserve program will be very limited – most likely to retired law enforcement. He said retired Mammoth Police Sergeant Karen Smart will act as a reserve and will head up a volunteer program which will not offset regular officers.
The Chief did say that if Mammoth switched dispatch services from Mono County to the Bishop Police Department, the Town could save as much as $100,000 per year.
Mayor Pro Tem Rick Wood, who had criticized the police officers for publicly objecting to the Town Council cuts, said he was happy the Chief “stepped up to meet the challenge presented.” He said a number of people “feel your department was picked on.” Wood admitted that there would be a different level of service. He said he believes the officers who have stayed are “committed.”
The Council accepted the Chief’s recommended service plan. They agreed that any savings this fiscal year will go to next fiscal year’s police budget and then any salary savings would pay for on-call officers.
Discover more from Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News - The Community's News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Everyone is forgetting the fact that MMM is giving the Council the information about who and what to cut. If you want to see where she gets her ruthless ideas take a look at her husband’s history. Go on the internet and find Nabar Enrique Martinez. It sounds as though he is her mentor. He has been the City Manager multiple places and left each one after a very short an controversial term. They would make a great man and wife hit team.
MMM does power-point presentations filled with graphs, figures, more figures, more graphs, … etc. that when her presentation is over, whenever she asks: “Any questions?” she never has any questions from the confused-looking elected officials. Never.
Like the slight-of-hand magician she gets an astronomical salary, free housing, free transportation, and doesn’t even reside in this community.
This can be considered a total disgrace to those taxpayers who allow this travesty.
Big Al, contrary to what you say, the US Constitution has been amended a total of 27 times, 17 of these Amendments coming after the Constitution was ratified. If enough of the citizens of the US dedmand a change or even a repeal of the 2nd Amendment, there is a procedure for this to happen under our Constitution.
The original premise of the 2nd Amendment was to arm a citizens militia so the nation would not have to maintain a professional standing army. The founders of this nation greatly feared standing armies, viewing these as the greatest threat to personal liberty possilble. Our Consitution was written to permit states to maintain militias and, in time of declared war or invasion, these militias could be mobilized into a national army to fight the war. When this happens the President becomes commander in chief to provide command unity for these previously disparate state militias. If you read our Constitution, you will see that while there is no time limit for the authorization of a Navy, there is a two year limit on the authorization of any standing army. There was a faction at the Constitutional Convention holding out for an outright constitutional ban on an army. This was the compromise, the idea that every two years Congress would have to debate authorizing a national army for a further two years, with the idea being that no Congress in it’s right mind would maintain a standing army and the threat that represents to freedom during times of peace.
On a personal note, we have police and a magistry so we do not have to carry guns and live by the law of the jungle. When I see people openly carrying firearms I associate that with tribal regions of Pakistan, not civilized, productive citizens of a first world nation.
Gun owners always point to the 2’nd Amendment to justify their gun ownership. If the 2’nd Amendment was repealed, the gun owners would say, “…the activist judges…” are destroying America and say, “See, I told you so. Obama is trying to take our guns.”
Gun ownership has long been more of a religion than a legal expression of individual liberty.
I wonder how many of the other amendments to the Constitution are more matters of religion than ‘legal expression of individual liberties’?
What kind of maniac would insist on owning a machine gun?
This “maniac” would love to have the right to own a machine gun. To bad we won’t be able to buy any bullets for them soon. Switzerland arms and trains all their people with them. Israel ought arm and train all their people with one also. It’s to late for the citizens of Syria.
If those that don’t think government or majority rules vote shouldn’t be able to take their 2nd amendment rights away? Why should we let those people who agree with how the 2nd amendment is now interpreted be given the ability to take away others most precious right in the most efficient ways? The right to Life, Liberty and Property!
The right to have a gun has been stepping all over the right to live and some of you have accepted that.
This is the kind of information our town government doesn’t want you to know. Look for the simple bar charts that show tax revenues toward the end of the document:
http://pancyl.com/GeneralFundTaxInformation.pdf
The town is now hiding this kind of information from you.
They are our representatives, not our masters.
There are a lot of people concerned and angry about the cuts to the P.D.
The Town Clowncil know this concern and anger and will use it to justify a new tax levy of some kind. In the mean time. All the wasteful programs like Tourism and airport subsidies will go untouched as if they are sacred.
More stuff that doesn’t make sense to me. But there’s more and more of that lately.
Those are money makers Ken, butter for the bread.
One last thought – Sir Robert Peel (an English guy born in 1788) is considered the father of modern policing principles. Google him and read some of his quotes. Moving stuff and it still applies today.
This topic (Police Cuts) reminds me of this quote from good ol Sir Robert:
“The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.” So when crap is happening at 4 AM and no sirens are coming in the distance you may need to step up and help a neighbor kick some a$$.
And while you are Googling also look up quotes from Col. Jeff Cooper. His insights might save your life one day.
Bennett, why should we quit talking about it now.
A lot of people are incredibly upset about this turn of events with our police department and they need to vocalize what they think, over and over again until…maybe….someone hears us, even if it doesn’t invoke change and even if you or anyone else is tired of hearing about it, at least we’re participating in some way. Don’t you want to encourage dialog rather than try to suppress it. Too many people sit on the sidelines day after day without voicing their opinions and concerns. I say the more who continue the conversation the better and I’m grateful, incredibly grateful, for all the bloggers on your website who are willing to speak up regardless of whether or not I agree with them. I probably learn just as much from the comments I disagree with as the ones I agree with.
People, please, keep talking!
Make up your mind. You first said don’t publicize the facts about police service. Now, you want to. Fine with me. I’m into the First Amendment.
Benett Kessler
I’m not conflicted at all. It’s already been publicized therefore I’m expressing my opinion on that. If it hadn’t been put out there in the media then I wouldn’t be so adamant about what I see as the negative impact of doing so.
Benett…informing or advertising,…it is the same thing. Maybe decipher what is put out there…i.e.: “Police Chief is making necessary cuts to meet the Town Council’s desired $1.1 Million demand.” “Informing” the public of the times, and types of law enforcement requests which will be denied is asinine. This runs along the same lines as the morons in New York who advertised the locations and addresses of all the REGISTERED gun owners in three counties in order to “Inform” parents so they know their children will be safe. Ummmm….the last I heard, not too many felons or hopeful-criminals are registering guns. Either way, Mammoth Lakes, be prepared for more misdemeanor crimes from a handful of tweakers which will go no where.
I sure would want to know what law enforcement could and could not do in my town. But, we can definitely quit talking about it now.
Benett Kessler
There should be no criticism for reporting this info. The people of Mammoth SHOULD know when help will arrive quickly and when it won’t.
For example – If a guy is beating a girl in the street at 4 PM you might expected cops to arrive in under a minute and therefore you may not take a personal risk and try to stop the aggressor. NOw if the same thing is happening at 4 AM in front of your house and you know a cop is at least 20 minutes away then you may need to arm yourself and protect another person life. EVery situation is different of course but I think you get my point.
Understanding how public services work and when they are available is critical to good decision making. It is just like being in the back country and understanding how far away help is. That info could completely change your decision making process.
So blame Benett for letting people know what the town council is doing to destroy public safety?
NO she’s not to blame .. I hear ya Ken … some people just don’t see it.
Whens the last time the Mammoth police stopped a major crime in the process?
Trouble, once again you try and take something complex and attempt to make it simple, which it is not.
How do you measure what crimes are prevented by officers being visable out on patrol in the wee hours of the morning and making contacts with suspicious persons and vehicles that are out that late?
Reality Check- the truth is simple to see. Our country has played on our peoples fears to take away more and more of our freedoms and civil rights in the name of public safety for to many years now. I don’t like police hiding in the bushes to hand out five hundred dollar tickets for going ten miles faster than some old lady likes. I don’t like stripping down at the airports. I don’t like being pulled over for no reason at all and asked for my I.D. and asked if I been drinking. And I believe I have a right to bare arms. Sorry Mammoth blew all it’s money, but something good has come from it in my point of view.
Cowboy up. My god how did we ever survive this long. If something happens between those hours, then it will be dealt with accordingly.
Andrew, how will it be dealt with when no one is on duty and the cop on call is responding from Bishop????
I like the Chief’s plan. DARE program has been a waste of money for years, as is the SRO…No presence from 3 am to 7 am most likely is the least harm. I’m curious, and I imagine KSRW could find out, what types and amounts of calls have come in during those hours in the last year? But let me also say, I hope this is very short term and that as funding increases hopefully from an improved economy and better snow year, that the PD is the first and ONLY dept. to get increases.
And yes, I don’t agree with or understand why tourism got ZERO cuts….That makes no sense, as does keeping MMM now that the lawsuit is over. Her position needs to be eliminated. I don’t understand getting rid of Johnston and replacing her with someone who makes more money.
Power .. Sierragrl, and trying to get the most dollars for the businesses .. not the town.
Well, dream on about good snow years saving our bacon. The best year we’ve ever had WRT: sales tax; property tax and TOT was in 2005 — and we’ve had record snow years between ’05 and now. Sales tax; property tax; and TOT have trended down since ’05. In fact, Sales tax and TOT where less in 2010-2011 than they were in 2001.
So the idea that we are going to grow out of our financial problems with good snow years is fallacious.
And another thing — the town website used to make it easy to find out such information. Now they are deliberately hiding that kind of easy summary in a blizzard of unrelated information. It’s called sandbagging. I don’t think they want people to know what’s really happening with town finances and what’s happening is a slow tailspin to nowhere.
I defy anyone to find a summary of the revenues that the town has taken in over the last 10-12 years. It’s not there anymore because they don’t want you to know. They just want you to know things like — “…best summer ever…” which is bull.
We are all being mushroomed by our own town government so they can fatten their own wallets and then run for the exit with a pile of our money.
Think I’m disgusting — a complainer — a negative Nancy? Look for yourself —
http://www.ci.mammoth-lakes.ca.us/
This has got to be the most stupidest thing a group of supposedly intelligent people could come with! OMG!! So you have a town such as Mammoth Lakes with lots of snow and sitting on top of a volcano, crammed with touristy flatlanders and only one way out of town (unless they are keeping the back road open this winter, but even then). What are we talking about! The safety of oh say 6 to 8 thousand people and only two cops on duty from 7am to 3am and no one on duty the rest of the time! That’s only one scenario, there are many more you should be thinking about but you’re NOT THINKING.You’re out of your minds folks. The loss of life will be on your hands.
I don’t think it is the horrible zombie fest you are painting waxi .. but it will be challenging.
yes, the volcano remark is very relevant….sheesh…..and by the way, the ‘escape’ route has been kept open year round for 20 years now…perhaps you should get out a bit more
It is doubtful that retired officers approaching or in their 60s would be interested in fighting with 20 something drunks in icy conditions, and risk serious injury. You don’t bounce back like you did in your 30s or 40s.
They might be useful working in the office or doing detective work, but after 30 years in the profession, most have moved on with their lives.
No, I don’t think it is advertising, it is just the chief telling everyone he has made the changes he has had to make as per having the proverbial gun to his head by the TC. He’s making it clear what has been chopped and cut back, so everyone knows where they stand, so it isn’t a surprise.
It won’t take long for the lesser intelligent perps to figure this all out, the perps with more going on know right now, so if you feel you whisper about it amongst yourselves it somehow will escape the criminal mind, better think again.
It might be, that some of the officers left are committed, and for what ever reason .. they might well be stuck where they are, Mr. Wood is just trying to suck up, it seems like, making comments that the PD was picked on .. poor PD. After all isn’t the TC that pushed these cuts?
The chief has the right idea of using retired LEOS, it will help his job, help the citizens, and the TC from some possible law suits down the road. Under normal operations, using reserve officers that are in training such as cadet officers and such, is a good thing, but when you have limited professional officers, it does not work well.
Arming everyone is not exactly the answer either, there are plenty of people out there who have no business being armed, there are some who will do good. I can see that scenario bringing some bad joojoo.
Hopefully the TC will pull it’s collective head out and .. bring a better solution to this, including taking a look at what THEY can do to contribute to the solution. Hopefully all of the citizens of ML will take them to task, they serve the community, the citizens, not themselves.
they are advertising exactly when and which crimes can now easily be commited
guess I’m not the only one who sees it as “advertising” when crimes can be committed with no consequences.
arm yourselves,report all criminal activities,its not hard to pinpoint drug dealers,you want a safer mammoth,help the p.d. to help you
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/mcchrystal-says-serious-action-needed-gun-control-174328785.html
Reserves aren’t going to put in lots of hours for free. Once they are trained you might get them to work 8 hrs a week at best. If they have day jobs and families you will be lucky to get two shifts out of them a month. And I really don’t see retired cops working for free as Reserve Officer.
Reserves are really only useful if you have lots of them ( and they are working towards a full time police job), or for working big events.
Reserves are not a real solution to what will be a lack of cops on the street. Reserves generally work during day or evening shifts. They aren’t going to work graveyards. So you put full time officers out at night and your inexperienced Reserves out when things are busy and you need that experience the most? That makes no sense.
When bad things happen at night people will be pissed and the TC can then pass some new taxes. In other words someone probably will have to get hurt for the problem to get fixed.
Cutting the police department budget so serverly is a really bad idea. Other things should have gone first.
I hope I am wrong but I have seen this movie before and people usually die at the end (or get badly hurt). I hope everything stays quiet and peaceful.
Insightful comment, I think. If something goes really wrong here in the wee hours of the morning, the response time could be too long to do any good.
If something goes wrong when no cops are working, they should call Rick Wood’s house!
I suggest we advertise the home’ addresses of the town council that voted to put us in this position.
The town leaders / managers that came up with this scheme to cut payroll, other than themselves/marketing or air subsidies. These cuts are covering the cost of the most recent of fiscal incompetency. Their home addresses should also be advertised as those responsible for the reduced police protection and town services to residents and visitors alike.
Lastly the home and business addresses of all the BID participants who are attempting to tax the public, in an effort to fund their addiction to greed. The public MLLA debt is the cause of these budget shortfalls and the many emotional responses here. The airport is and always was about bringing in more customers for the town businesses, not transportation for the town inhabitants. This is the exact same motive for the proposed BID, it’s just another tax scheme being proposed to benefit the private sector. We’ve come full circle with over a 100 million invested in an airport and air service with nothing but public debt to show for that investment.
Marketing works in more ways than one and need not cost the public 4 million dollars in new taxes at the expense of the towns police protection. Marketing can also be as worthless as a town survey, a town council or greedy carpetbaggers.
Word of mouth can be just as effective, I won’t support anyone that votes for or approves any new taxes!
I really dread what will happen when a major violent felony occurs at 0400 or 0500 in the morning, knowing that a police response could be quite lengthy. A burglar committing a crime at o dark thirty in the morning could be miles from the scene before any police could arrive..I really feel sorry for the citizens of Mammoth Lakes should they lose 24 hour police service..
Roy- you have less police, not none. Get six volunteer reserves and you’ll have more than ever. You’ll be o.k..
According to the Police Chief, they would need Level 1 reserves which are not currently available in any big numbers.
BK
Trouble, in order for a Reserve Officer to respond alone to a call alone without a full time Officer in the car with him, he would have to take 9 months to 12 months off of work to get the training to legaly do so. All this for a volunteer job!
Get real Trouble. Your simplistic solutions to complex problems are getting annoying.
I have the answer “buy a gun”. Then have the media report to the public who carries and who doesnt and where they live. Isnt that the answer these days?
The argument we are hearing re: gun ownership is cleverly and politically skewed.
Nobody is against the ownership of guns per se. Guns are part of our culture and used for hunting, protection, etc.
The problem is: Why would anybody in their right mind (no pun intended) cry that their rights are being violated, and insist on owning a machine gun (which is what assault rifles are) and for what purpose would that person use that machine gun?
Paranoia strikes deep. Into your life it will creep. It starts when you’re always afraid. Step out of line and the man comes and takes you away.
I trained reserve Deputies for LA County Sheriff’s Dept…. It takes a long time and lots of training before one becomes a level 1 reserve…and are able to work by them selves…
Getting people to do for free what highly trained and skilled professionals used to do for a good salary is the wet-dream of corporatists everywhere.
No offence Trouble but if there are people willing to work for free — why does anybody have a job?
I will note that Chief Watson told the Town Council that they would have to pay for reserves, particularly because Bishop and Inyo County
pay theirs.
BK
Benett I am basing it on the gun laws that we will soon have to live with. With more to come once they get that level, it will set Presidence for future tighter gun laws, they will not quit with semi automatic weapons.
I agree there has to be some control, but denying someone to own guns is totally against the rights every American which are protected under the second amendment.
What we have to remember … The United States of America is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy, The only thing democratic about it, is that we hold democratic elections to elect our representatives.
These same representatives are are required to work within the framework of our constitution. This means even though the majority of the people do not like something, they have no right to go against the constitutional rights, and that means not even one citizen.
Throughout the years people in the position of power in the country have ignore the rights of some citizens, and have gone against the constitution, we have seen it in action several times in our history, in the end though .. good prevails for the most part.
But the constitution has never been successfully challenged to this day.
Our current leaders in their arrogance, in their agenda, are working to undermine the constitution, in order to do so, they need to control the ability of citizens protect themselves from any tyrannical dealings. Gun control is the needed vehicle for their means.
Every tragedy that we experience gives them power from the public outcry, to disarm the public. The flames are fanned and the people cringe and gasp and call for something to be done, and of course they step up and decry the right to keep and bear arms.
Very convenient wouldn’t you say … Why isn’t it, that no one seems to heed the cry or champion the need for reform of our mental health system, or finding a way to change our heart.
More laws, more ways to control, less ways to bring back common sense and responsibility. If we have laws that tell us how to act, then we don’t have to know how to act.
As I said in another post, for a different reason, but really to the same end .. I can see some bad joojoo coming down the road at us, if these people are allowed to undermine the Constitution, as it is .. it is still the saving grace, for who knows how much longer.
I agree with you on the mental health and heart issues. You are so right. Who we are and how we live does have an impact on all of society. As for the gun issue, I too believe in the Second Amendment. The tragedy in Connecticut, however, does rightfully cause intelligent people to at least reflect on the availability of certain types of guns. Even General McChrystal went public with his believe that some level of control needs to take place. I really doubt that any gun control laws will be passed, however. As for President Obama, since the beginning of his administration he has been soundly criticized by those who want more controls and labeled as bad news for gun control. Now, who knows. Your point about the need for more reflection on what’s wrong in society and in individuals makes a lot of sense.
Benett
Ken- I kind of agree with you when it comes to working class people getting screwed out of good paying jobs. For that I do feel bad for the officers and their families. But, I have grown tired of how aggressive our police and laws have become . Personally I think our country has gone to far with all the things they do in the name of public safety. So, I probably should have said that in a better or different way. I’ve heard our county incarcerates more people than any other county and I think that is sad.
I wasn’t aware of that. Over zealous police are not generally good for the community. It seems to vary over time and place. I’ve lived in towns where police were over zealous and it’s really not good.
I don’t have any first hand knowledge of that being the case here in Mammoth. The officers here have always just felt like part of the community.
Hard to say how all this will work out.
I meant to say our country (not county) incarcerates, more people than any other country in the world. That is sad and I believe some proof that we do live in a self created police state. And God forbid someone for trying to help someone get off drugs rather than lock them up and throw away the keys.
I hear what you’re saying Trouble .. I agree with you on your basic issue, over zealous individuals in law enforcement, yes that is something I have tried to express here I know some think I am bashing police all together but I’m not.
I speak out about the ones who think they are all that, and it’s all about them. I have known and worked with a lof ot LEOS over the years, and pretty much all of them have been good hands, good people to know, I have seen a lot of compassion from them, and I have seen some who aren’t worth the powder.
Our law makers .. those people who sit in the big fancy building there in DC, they are pushing the agenda on us .. creating the police state you are referring to. More and more laws, just about every day. The system only make them more aggressive. It is getting more aggressive, so it supports more aggressive behavior.
Something has to give though, we will not be able to build enough prisons, but when the govt. makes everyone turn in their guns, you will see the change that obummer doesn’t want people to know about.
Are you saying that the President plans to confiscate all of our weapons? If so, what are you basing this on?
Benett
Do you REALLY think Inyo or Mono County incarcerates more people than Los Angeles County..Or San Bernardino County ?..Whoever you heard that from,I’d ask to see where they get their information.
…Be careful what you ask for…..You could be asking for 6 volunteer officers,and be getting 6 George Zimmerman’s…..
That’s EXACTLY why it takes about 6 months or more to do a thorough background check ,Wayne. So you DON’T end up with any Zimmerman’s. BTW, the Chief stated that the reserves would be limited to retired cops, no newbies.
I WAS a Reserve Deputy for 3+ years in the early 90’s. We were only allowed to work the streets as a second officer pared with a full time officer. During big events two Reserve could work on car or do a foot patrol together.
After becoming a full time cop I realized just now much I didn’t know. As a Reserve I was a good backup Officer. I could fight, chase people down, write tickets, etc etc. I was terrible at report writing and there were a lot of investigations that I could not do because I did not have the full time training and experience to know what I was doing. For example I did not know how to make DUI or Under the influence of Drugs investigations and report. I could not handle a rape report when I was a reserve. Or a child molestation investigation. Once I was full time being an Officer was my main focus in life and I learned how to do everything.
I can tell you it is a very bad idea to think Reserves can fill in for regular Officers. They can’t! Reserve do not get the same level of training and MORE importantly they don’t have the street experience to operate on their own.
A full-time cop is in training with another officer full-time for at least 6 months before they are let loose to work a one man car. In Europe it is a year in some places and Japan I think is 2 years. And even as a one man car the senior officers will monitor what you are doing and show up on your calls and traffic stops to make sure you are doing OK and acting correctly.
If you have to pay for Reserves to work (maybe some retired guys would work if they were paid) then why not just keep the full-timers.
Big Al,
Nobody wants to take all the guns away from everyone. It’s the AK-47 assault rifles (that kill grade school children) that’s the problem.
The Tea Party people are at the bottom of this “bye-bye 2nd Amendment” nonsense.
Here’s a little humor for you from the brilliant satirists at The Onion:
Obama Paranoid Over Government
http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-paranoid-government-coming-for-his-guns,30638/
NRA president Wayne LaPierre who says the senseless murder of 20 first-graders and six educators by a mentally unstable gunman with an assault rifle, should have blown over by now.
Noting that the massacre was “almost a month ago” and that all of the victims had been laid to rest, the frustrated lobbyist said he couldn’t help but think the nation’s continued efforts to mourn victims and its protracted discussions of gun control were “a little much” at this point.
“I get that this horrible thing happened and all these kids are dead now, but honestly, how long are we going to keep talking about this?” the gun advocate said as he scanned a recent editorial on weapons permits, adding that “enough’s enough, you know?
The Senator Feinstein would love to ban all guns… Here is an article from two days ago. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/01/06/senator-feinsteins-all-out-assault-on-gun-rights/
So you may think that the 2nd Amendment is nonsense, that is typical response from a liberal drinking the koolaid.
The mainstream GOP has determined that if it ever wants to win another election in the future, it must distance itself totally from the Rabid Right teaparty crazies.
You know them by their wacky “God wants us to have AK-47s! – it’s the American Way!” BS.
No I totally understand it .. and yes there are those who want to take all guns away, I do understand .. assault weapons and the need to regulate them. And it isn’t just school children, it has been a number of people of all ages, these sort of tragedies are sensationalized, and that is the most prevalent reason for these sorts of tragedies rather than assault weapons or revolvers and shot guns and such.
No one wants to get to the real reason for all of this, guns are scape goats, mental health and sensationalism is the true culprit. Timothy McVeigh killed a whole bunch of people with a truck bomb, and it is illegal for people other than licensed professionals to own explosives or make them. That did not stop him one heart beat from carrying out his twisted plan.
I think people just do not understand how important this issue is and the consequences. What is really the truth. So yeah killing people .. that really is the problem, with what ever you used to carry it out, isn’t the problem.
I think the NRA is one of the strongest points we have to preserve the second amendment and to preserve the constitution as well. They blow it out their butts at times .. but they are helping us keep free.
I think what Wayne is trying to say, is .. the media hype is feeding the fire, keeping people all worked up about it .. news sells right? Well yes, it also informs us, but the main stream media is selling news! and it is also promoting self agendas as well, this is a truth that can’t be denied.
As I have said before .. the sensationalism is rampant, and breeds more of the same tragedies. Just like Dr. Facts Rushbough or however you say his name, and some others who I can’t even remember their names, they all spew out the crap, while some of it is of worth, there is a lot of crap flying around, whipping everyone up into a frenzy like they just ate some fizzies.
We need to let it die down, means we need to not let the evil feed the fire and the anxious not be able to feed on anything. Copy Cats are waiting in the wings, to one up .. or go out in a blaze of glory, so everyone knows their name when they die.
It’s informing the public about what not to even bother making a call about. Hope it doesn’t cause civilian confrontations that could be dangerous. If someone trys to stop a vandal or other “misdemeanor” miscreant near their domicile and a fight ensues does that constitute domestic violence?
why so many dislikes on this one – don’t you like hearing the truth, it’s not pretty but it’s our new reality.
Nancy, do you somehow think that the word will not get out that the cops are not working after 3:00 AM?
I want some of what you are smoking!
no, that’s exactly what I think – the word will get out that there aren’t any police on duty between 3A and 7A and that’s when more problems will start happening.
Drive drunks home??? Maybe to their NEW home in Bridgeport!
Why are we advertising there will be no police on duty between 3A and 7A, limited or no response to vandalism, loud parties and various misdemeanor crimes. Isn’t that just inviting would be criminals to act during those hours knowing they won’t get caught.
It’s not advertising. It’s informing the public about what taxpayer-supported services they now have.
Benett Kessler
And what services they no longer have.
OK, don’t call it “advertising”, that’s just semantics. But not only are you “informing” the taxpayers but you’re also “informing” would be criminals of what their window of opportunity is to commit a crime without any threat of serious consequences if there are no police officers on duty during that time. They can be long gone before anyone responds to the incident.
You seem conflicted. You don’t want people to hear this but you do!
BK
It’s already been publicized, so that’s not going to change – I’m just voicing my opinion.
“He [Wood] said a number of people “feel your department was picked on.”
With over a million dollars cut from the P.D. budget and not a single dollar cut from the Tourism or Airport budget, it’s hard to figure out why people think the P.D. has been singled out.