Quite the Weekend
Well, we survived the girls' first camping experience this weekend (it helped greatly that they were able to sleep through a massive thunderstorm Sunday night). Time to get caught up with what's been going on in the world.
You've heard the expression that things "happen in three's". Well, let's hope that holds true in this case. I certainly don't need to be opening the paper any time soon to see yet another story of a licensed gun owner in Massachusetts shooting anybody outside the bounds of legal self-defense.
Neighbors say, 'We've had enough'
As is always the case, there's more to this story than the papers are reporting as of this morning. For instance, from what I've heard, one of the nightclub's owners is the son of a Lawrence police officer. And the state representative up there, who happens to be of Dominican descent, is alleged to have been pressuring the licensing board not to take action against this nightclub that caters largely to the Dominican population in the area. Again, this is just what I've heard. I'll try to get more on this story as the facts become known.
And, like flies on dog shit, the local news media is predictably "up in arms" over this. If you watched the latest report from Channel 7's consumer reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan last night, you might think that Massachusetts has been free of all gun-related violence right up until the three recent shootings involving licensed gun owners.
Never mind the thousands of instances of violent crime against unarmed citizens that take place across Massachusetts every year, or the increasing number of stories of gangbanging assholes shooting each other all over Mayor Menino's "safe" city, while the residents in those neighborhoods live shuttered inside their homes for fear of walking to the corner for a loaf of bread.
If they were to focus on those stories, why that might cast a negative light on our "most effective gun control laws in the country". Can't have that.
So, what exactly did "Help me, Hank" have to say on this?
License to Carry
What do you think the target practice is for, Hank?
Again, I thought it was "progressive" to be so "pro-choice".
One licensed gun owner on every city bus? Sounds good to me. Though, I strongly suspect her intention in mentioning that wasn't to make people feel safer about riding the bus. But, hey, why waste a perfectly good opportunity to scare your viewers?
True, but even the most mentally-challenged crackhead knows the odds are in his greatly in his favor when choosing the next innocent (and completely defenseless) person to volunteer for his latest personal income redistribution program.
You want to know what kind of bloodbath the town of Oakham, Massachusetts is? I had never even heard of it before reading this.
OK, who let this radical nutjob into the state?
I'd say that number sounds about right - if you count parking tickets as "crime".
Of course, in towns like Brookline (and Quincy, Cambridge, Boston, etc.) everyone who isn't a police officer (or the son of a local baseball legend) is "unsuitable". Apparently, by merely living within one of these enlightened communities, you become a viable threat to society, whereas, if you were to move out to Oakham, the urge to mow down the innocent would magically subside.
I know what you mean, Captain. Why just this morning, I nearly impaled myself on a shampoo bottle in the shower. And then, when i got to work, I came this close to bludgeoning myself to death with my stapler. I sure wish I had a good friend like you to keep me safe from myself. I mean, as we speak, there's a reeeeally sharp pencil just inches away from me. I'm afraid I might jab it into my eyeball any second now.
Can I assume, Captain, that you will begin ordering all privately owned swimming pools in Brookline to be filled with concrete and paved over? You know..."for the children" and all?
I wonder if anyone watching 7 News last night will make the connection between this story and the one preceding it about the woman in Brookline who was out for a walk when a man wearing nothing but a mask jumped out of some bushes and assaulted her.
So, when Captain O'Leary says that women in Brookline don't need to own guns to protect themselves, he might as well be telling them they don't need to leave their homes after 8:00 at night. If they just pull the shades down, lock their doors and windows, everything will be just fine - as long as they remember to have the police come in ahead of time and clear their homes of all sharp, pointy objects.
You've heard the expression that things "happen in three's". Well, let's hope that holds true in this case. I certainly don't need to be opening the paper any time soon to see yet another story of a licensed gun owner in Massachusetts shooting anybody outside the bounds of legal self-defense.
Neighbors say, 'We've had enough'
Marine of the Year Daniel Cotnoir remains a hero in the eyes of some Lawrence residents, despite being charged with attempted murder for shooting into a crowd early Saturday.
"Somebody had to step up to the plate," said Bruce Reynolds, owner of the Longhorn Gas Station on Broadway Avenue, who, like other residents is exasperated by late-night carousing and violence in Lawrence.
Cotnoir, whose lives next to the station, is accused of firing out of his second-floor window about 2:30 a.m. into a large crowd of raucous youths in front of Reynolds' station. The bullet hit a concrete island and shattered, sending shrapnel into the neck and leg of a 15-year-old girl and the leg of a 20-year-old man. Witnesses say someone in the crowd had thrown something at Cotnoir's house, and then threw a bottle through his window.
As is always the case, there's more to this story than the papers are reporting as of this morning. For instance, from what I've heard, one of the nightclub's owners is the son of a Lawrence police officer. And the state representative up there, who happens to be of Dominican descent, is alleged to have been pressuring the licensing board not to take action against this nightclub that caters largely to the Dominican population in the area. Again, this is just what I've heard. I'll try to get more on this story as the facts become known.
And, like flies on dog shit, the local news media is predictably "up in arms" over this. If you watched the latest report from Channel 7's consumer reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan last night, you might think that Massachusetts has been free of all gun-related violence right up until the three recent shootings involving licensed gun owners.
Never mind the thousands of instances of violent crime against unarmed citizens that take place across Massachusetts every year, or the increasing number of stories of gangbanging assholes shooting each other all over Mayor Menino's "safe" city, while the residents in those neighborhoods live shuttered inside their homes for fear of walking to the corner for a loaf of bread.
If they were to focus on those stories, why that might cast a negative light on our "most effective gun control laws in the country". Can't have that.
So, what exactly did "Help me, Hank" have to say on this?
License to Carry
"Lee" is a family man with a good job. He lives on the South Shore - and he's allowed to carry a gun. His firearm's for target practice, but he's legally licensed to carry it concealed - for self defense.
What do you think the target practice is for, Hank?
"I want the guarantee I can protect myself and my family," this gunowner says. "If I choose to carry, that's up to me."
Again, I thought it was "progressive" to be so "pro-choice".
In fact, our investigation found more than 194,000 people in Massachusetts - that's one in 25 Bay State adults--has the Class A license that could allow them to carry a concealed firearm. That's equal to one person on each city bus--or 10 moviegoers at a sold out show.
One licensed gun owner on every city bus? Sounds good to me. Though, I strongly suspect her intention in mentioning that wasn't to make people feel safer about riding the bus. But, hey, why waste a perfectly good opportunity to scare your viewers?
Chief Paul Frazier, President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, says that he's "sure most residents don't know who has them and who doesn't have them."
True, but even the most mentally-challenged crackhead knows the odds are in his greatly in his favor when choosing the next innocent (and completely defenseless) person to volunteer for his latest personal income redistribution program.
But 7-NEWS obtained town-by-town numbers - and found the percent of adults with those Class A licenses depends on where you live. In Boston and Cambridge - the numbers are fewer than one percent. In Wareham and Millville -- around 9 percent. Rowe and Savoy more than 26 percent. And in Oakham, more than 44 per cent are licensed to carry firearms.
You want to know what kind of bloodbath the town of Oakham, Massachusetts is? I had never even heard of it before reading this.
Oakham Police Chief Donald Haapakoski says, "I think people are exercising their right to carry firearms."
OK, who let this radical nutjob into the state?
Police say Walter Bishop was licensed - and used his weapon to kill a man in a road rage dispute. Law enforcement confirms William Green was licensed to carry too--he's charged in another road rage shooting.
Officials say that even Massachusetts' extra-tough gun law - which requires criminal background checks and a gun safety course - can't predict the unpredictable.
Chief Frazier says, "Probably 99 per cent of people properly licensed to carry firearms do not commit crimes. So it's a very rare instance."
I'd say that number sounds about right - if you count parking tickets as "crime".
State law does give local police chiefs the power to refuse "unsuitable" applicants - those with a history of domestic violence, or substance abuse.
Of course, in towns like Brookline (and Quincy, Cambridge, Boston, etc.) everyone who isn't a police officer (or the son of a local baseball legend) is "unsuitable". Apparently, by merely living within one of these enlightened communities, you become a viable threat to society, whereas, if you were to move out to Oakham, the urge to mow down the innocent would magically subside.
Brookline Police Captain John O'Leary says, "We have to have the community's safety in mind, as well as the applicants safety."
I know what you mean, Captain. Why just this morning, I nearly impaled myself on a shampoo bottle in the shower. And then, when i got to work, I came this close to bludgeoning myself to death with my stapler. I sure wish I had a good friend like you to keep me safe from myself. I mean, as we speak, there's a reeeeally sharp pencil just inches away from me. I'm afraid I might jab it into my eyeball any second now.
Can I assume, Captain, that you will begin ordering all privately owned swimming pools in Brookline to be filled with concrete and paved over? You know..."for the children" and all?
I wonder if anyone watching 7 News last night will make the connection between this story and the one preceding it about the woman in Brookline who was out for a walk when a man wearing nothing but a mask jumped out of some bushes and assaulted her.
So, when Captain O'Leary says that women in Brookline don't need to own guns to protect themselves, he might as well be telling them they don't need to leave their homes after 8:00 at night. If they just pull the shades down, lock their doors and windows, everything will be just fine - as long as they remember to have the police come in ahead of time and clear their homes of all sharp, pointy objects.
