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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.
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