Do You Believe In Luck?

[Dreadbelly]

Today, when I went downtown, I happened to look over acrossed the street and saw the GCL (Greenville Crime Lab) at the cemetary. So I crossed the street and asked what was up. A dead body in the cemetary, that was what was up. Somebody got cut to shreds.

Looked to be a drug deal gone bad.

Last night... I was going to go for a walk. And just as I was going to get dressed and head out the door, I got sleepy. So I went to bed instead.

Meth is a serious problem round here. A real serious problem. While I am not sure what to do exactly, I do think that something needs to be done. The city is simply not doing enough to combat the drug problem. The cameras downtown are nice, but all they do is drive the criminals to a place where there are no cameras.

I am not scared. No macho or bravado here. It's merely a statement. I am however, a bit more concerned and a bit worried about my nightly walks. Had I gone for a walk last night, I could have very well wound up in the middle of that. And while this was done with a knife, I know a lot of dealers also have guns. If faced with a knife fight... I am fairly confident that I could hold my own. If faced with a gun... I have some doubts.

This is unacceptable. The city simply must do more to end this problem and keep the streets clean of trash of all kinds. Entirely to much work was done to make downtown Greenville a decent place to be. And now the fringes are becoming nasty again. Something clearly needs to be done... But what?

Going to have to make these fringe areas uncomfortable somehow to this undesireable element.

So far, my only idea is as follows. There is a lot of scrub and brush. Hedges and trees. And tombstones. I have a hunting slingshot someplace that fires steel ball bearings. Think about it for a moment. Yeah. That's it. Hunker down in the bushes give somebody the worst headache in their life. Or, if presented with the opportunity, shoot them in the groin. Wouldn't want any more children coming in to this world with parents that will put them at risk.

It's only an idea, but one I am considering. Anybody can sit back and bitch. Somebody has to get their hands dirty.

If I had the money, I would get a digital movie cam with a night vision system. Trail them from the bushes, get them on camera, get their faces, get their bloody license plates if I could, film them in the act, and turn the film in to the police.

[Archangel]

So here's the deal, everybody in a modern city is filmed at least four times a day. If the political will was there, the crimes would be dealt with.
I would not suggest the sling-shot idea. In the chess game of life, this would leave you with a lousy endgame.
Not sure of political parameters allowed here but, quickly, I'll make a couple of suggestions. One, show the local politicians that it is your community's will that this get cleaned up. Have like minded people write and mail letters (not petitions, emails). Have brightly lit allowed (by cemetary owners) vigils, all night songs, prayer, meditation, reflection and clean up. It probably is a good time to act, politicos are going to be very sensitive right now.

If the followers lead, the leaders will follow.


(mods: how much room do we have to move in this discussion?)

[Southern Breeze]

Have you considerd starting or joining a neighborhood watch program? Most large cities have at least one set up. Check with your local police department.If your going to carry a weapon the simple camcorder is the way to go.

[Brasilikilt]

Hey Dread

My neighborhood is also on the rough side. A friend of mine jokingly said "You live on the corner of Meth and Prostitute" but unfortunately there is too much truth to his joke.
Just last night some A$$*&%$decided that my parkinglot was a perfect place to pull into and take a leak all over my fence!!
On a few different occasions radios have been stolen from vehicles here, cars have been stolen, or stolen cars have been dumped here

There's tenants in my complex which were on the news for being a part of some meth-dealing ring and DEFINITELY have some kind of illegal crap going on HERE which people are coming and going several times a day leaving with empty backpacks, returning with a full backpack which they put in their trunk before taking off. The cops have been here several times and I'm sure the Drug and Vice squad can only add them onto a looooong list of identical reports happening all over this neighborhood
Some guy was STABBED on the sidewalk RIGHT NEXT TO MY PARKING LOT!! If I was here, I sure as hell would have put a stop to it!

Almost every day I see "tweekers" (slang term for drug addict) going through the dumpsters here.

On a couple different occasions people have tried to break into my Laundry room/Workshop area.......when I called the police to come and make a report, the officer literally told me that he couldn't do anything and that I would be better off waiting on the other side of the door with my shotgun
ERRRRRRRGGGG
The list goes on and on and on!

It must feel really good in your case to have been able to stop a crimes from being comitted with your sure-handed barbarian frying-pan style :-)

In my case...I see all this stuff happening around me and I SO BADLY want to put a stop to it, but calling the cops is no good because they won't waste time sending a cruiser out here for anything less than burglary or a fight in progress........
The most frustrating thing is that if I confront these wastes of space and tell em to get the F*#@ away, I have to worry about these scumbags coming back to my house while I'm gone at work and putting my pregnant wife in danger. These spineless turds would most likely resort to a more cowardly tactic, such as breaking into my shop and stealing all my tools which would REALLY REALLY Hurt me BAD!!
If I were to resort to any TRULY EFFECTIVE methods such as beating them away with my staff, pelting them with dirt clods, garbage and fecal matter or by simply swatting at them with a broom while screaming in gibberish, *I* would be the one to go to jail!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...........
Thanks for letting me vent :0)

[Dreadbelly]

Hey Dread

My neighborhood is also on the rough side. A friend of mine jokingly said "You live on the corner of Meth and Prostitute" but unfortunately there is too much truth to his joke.
Just last night some A$$*&%$decided that my parkinglot was a perfect place to pull into and take a leak all over my fence!!
On a few different occasions radios have been stolen from vehicles here, cars have been stolen, or stolen cars have been dumped here

There's tenants in my complex which were on the news for being a part of some meth-dealing ring and DEFINITELY have some kind of illegal crap going on HERE which people are coming and going several times a day leaving with empty backpacks, returning with a full backpack which they put in their trunk before taking off. The cops have been here several times and I'm sure the Drug and Vice squad can only add them onto a looooong list of identical reports happening all over this neighborhood
Some guy was STABBED on the sidewalk RIGHT NEXT TO MY PARKING LOT!! If I was here, I sure as hell would have put a stop to it!

Almost every day I see "tweekers" (slang term for drug addict) going through the dumpsters here.

On a couple different occasions people have tried to break into my Laundry room/Workshop area.......when I called the police to come and make a report, the officer literally told me that he couldn't do anything and that I would be better off waiting on the other side of the door with my shotgun
ERRRRRRRGGGG
The list goes on and on and on!

It must feel really good in your case to have been able to stop a crimes from being comitted with your sure-handed barbarian frying-pan style :-)

In my case...I see all this stuff happening around me and I SO BADLY want to put a stop to it, but calling the cops is no good because they won't waste time sending a cruiser out here for anything less than burglary or a fight in progress........
The most frustrating thing is that if I confront these wastes of space and tell em to get the F*#@ away, I have to worry about these scumbags coming back to my house while I'm gone at work and putting my pregnant wife in danger. These spineless turds would most likely resort to a more cowardly tactic, such as breaking into my shop and stealing all my tools which would REALLY REALLY Hurt me BAD!!
If I were to resort to any TRULY EFFECTIVE methods such as beating them away with my staff, pelting them with dirt clods, garbage and fecal matter or by simply swatting at them with a broom while screaming in gibberish, *I* would be the one to go to jail!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...........
Thanks for letting me vent :0)

There you go. Get MAD. Anger is a good driving force. A fuel. Now direct it in a positive direction if you can.

And then go and take your neighborhood back.

Some times, when the police fail, the community must be the ones out on the streets with radios, bats, cameras, dogs, and whatever else they can muster.

Make sure every time you deal with the police that you tweak their nose and hurt their pride. If you have to clean up a mess, make sure you let them know that you, a lowly citizen, just did their job. Well, the ones that act like they don't give a damn anyways. The good ones, make sure you thank them profusely for doing what they could.

I got me some ideas. Some of them involve direct violence. Some involve ripping city hall a new one. One idea involves having my body chained to a lightpost in front of city hall. No, I am not joking. I am really that angry about this. This is my HOME.

I would rather not resort to violence, but I am more than capable of it if I have to. I figure that if I do something so over the top that it is impossible to ignore, at least it might get on the news and get some attention. Maybe. If I am lucky.

The tweakers are getting bad around here.

[Archangel]

Community in Toronto that was bad set up a website and cam with pictures of "visitors" to the neighbourhood. Also posted license numbers of circling cars and posted broadsheets promoting the website. They claim that it worked and was copying an effective one from Vancouver, if I'm remembering correctly. It didn't violate our privacy laws.