GRNC Alert 2-27-12: Greensboro News-Recor?d Pushes Park Ban

Publishes irrational Sunday editorial…

 

According to the News-Record “…no one has any statistics whatsoever to suggest that the city’s parks are so dangerous that you’d be a fool not to go in there with one hand on the trigger.”

 

Really? Aside from the fact that hands don’t usually fit on triggers, there actually is quite a bit of information available to indicate that “gun-free zones” like Greensboro parks are among the most dangerous places in North Carolina.

 

Greensboro has one of the highest crime rates in NC

 

Maybe those in favor of the ban like Police Chief Ken Miller and Parks and Recreation Director Greg Jackson remain unaware of the crime wave that has hit their city? It does seem to be under-reported in the News-Record, so perhaps there is some excuse, or perhaps ignorance is bliss?

 

The State Bureau of Investigation seems to be more on top of the situation. Analysis of SBI data reveals that Greensboro has 5.6 crimes per 1000 population vs. only 3.6 statewide. This puts Greensboro in the top 6 % of the most dangerous places in the US – the same rank as our “handgun-free” murder capitol, Washington D.C.

 

Park and Recreation Director unaware of any park crime in 20 years

 

Mr. Jackson’s lack of awareness seems odd given that Greenville, NC, plagued with a similarly high crime rate, dispatched the police to investigate park crime 93 times in 2010. And we are supposed to believe that park crime doesn’t regularly occur in a city OVER THREE TIMES the size — and never has in over 20 years? Something is missing in Greensboro, and it isn’t crime-free parks – but may have something to do with good record keeping.

 

Park crime is rampant in NC

 

According to the News-Observer park crime is “fantasy”. And that “until December concealed handguns have not been allowed in Greensboro parks and all other city property. Those shootout scenarios simply have not come true.”

 

Yes, prior to passage of HB 650 the law-abiding haven’t been able to bear arms, and so haven’t been able to defend themselves. How can the law-abiding shoot when they have been unconstitutionally disarmed? Disarming citizens doesn’t eliminate the need for self-defense – far from it. The clear outcome of defenselessness has been rampant crime.

 

Here are a few examples that seem to have escaped the attention of the News-Record, Chief Miller and Director Jackson:

 

Alamance county kidnapping & assault:

http://www.thetimesnews.com/common/printer/view.php?db=burlington&id=10155

Charlotte serial park rapist:

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13927043

Charlotte attempted child kidnapping:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42530811

Greenville park murder:

http://www.reflector.com/crimerescue/group-gathers-mourn-homicide-victims-783371

High Point assault with deadly weapon:

http://blog.news-record.com/staff/offtherecord/archives/2007/10/disturbing_atta.shtml

Lexington assault by 4 assailants:

http://www.news-record.com/blog/53458/entry/61389

Winston-Salem assault and robbery:

http://www.digtriad.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=159527

Second Winston-Salem rape within 3 months:

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/08/10/article/rape_reported_in_winston_salem_park

 

Are rights only rights when deemed necessary by government (or newspapers)?

 

Of course the News-Record’s argument really fails when considering the fact that rights don’t depend on what government thinks is needed. Citizens have a God-given right to bear arms – period. We have work to do in order to ensure that our right to bear arms in Greensboro is not infringed.

 

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Write Letters AND Email

 

  • Write letters to the Greensboro News-Record correcting their faulty logic.
  • Email PRO-Freedom Councilors and thank them for voting against the illegal ban
Contact Information for PRO-Freedom Councilors

 

Use the webform selecting only these Councilors who have voted against the park ban:

 

Council Member T. Dianne Bellamy-Small

Council Member Zack Matheny

Council Member Nancy Vaughan

Council Member Trudy Wade

 

Webform: http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=93

Email this Message to PRO-Freedom Councilors

 

Dear Council Members:

 

Thank you for choosing to respect both state law and the rights of citizens to lawfully protect themselves and their families.

 

Despite opinion recently published in the News-Recorder, it is clear to every reasonable person that disarming the law-abiding will only empower criminals.

 

Please remain strong and continue to do everything in your power to ensure that Greensboro parks remain open to lawful carry.

 

Gratefully,

 

A Gun-Owning, Law-Abiding NC Voter

Write a letter to the editor of the Greensboro News-Record

 

Instructions for submitting a letter are available here:

http://www.news-record.com/content/info/submitting_a_letter_to_the_editor

 

Suggested Points to Make in Letters to the Editor

  • Greensboro remains among the most dangerous cities within North Carolina.
  • Greensboro’s crime rate is the same as Washington DC’s, the “murder capitol”.
  • Park crime is an undeniable problem (provide examples from the list above, or others you may be aware of).
  • Referring to reversal of unconstitutional gun bans as “mucking around” with state law is disrespectful and inaccurate.

Make your letters short and to the point – but make them! Your published views carry great weight.

 

Copyright Info

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© 2012 GRNCFFE, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction and distribution is permitted provided full attribution is given and the item is reprinted in its entirety. Address questions to: President@GRNC.org

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