Posted on 03/16/2005 6:09:09 AM PST by new cruelty
IF AND WHEN Mayor Street sits down with the governor and leaders in the General Assembly to discuss the "crisis" of gun violence in the city, Street may ask for a tough new law restricting concealed handguns.
Street said he's "concerned and frustrated" by the number of concealed gun permits that are being issued in the city and that he may decide by Monday to order a moratorium on new permits.
The mayor's flurry of words came on a day when he called in his top police commanders to consider how to cope with an ugly outbreak of bloody killings across the city.
At the same time, Street sent a letter to Gov. Rendell asking for help in dealing with state gun law "that handcuffs our ability to regulate the sale of guns in Philadelphia."
But Street was quick to defend Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, saying he "firmly and fully and completely and totally" supports Johnson.
Over the weekend, the city experienced 11 homicides, including a mother who killed two of her children and a 9-year old who was fatally shot in the chest as he sat in a mini-van. Speaking at a City Council budget hearing yesterday, Johnson said there have been 71 homicides in 74 days as of Monday. Asked what's happening, a somber Johnson said, "I don't know what's going on."
Though 80 percent of the murders involved handguns, that's about all that's clear.
Johnson said that 29 were the result of "arguments" generally about money and women, 19 have undetermined causes, seven were drug related, three were domestic, two were residential robberies and one each were sexual related and child abuse. But that left nine cases without a category.
Street said the pattern of killings is so varied that in most instances police would have great difficulty preventing the carnage. But he said he ordered Johnson to make a thorough review of the cases.
"We're never too proud to circle the wagons and go back to determine whether we can do things better," Street said. On Monday, the mayor will review whatever recommendations Johnson offers.
Street wants to put together a Philadelphia delegation including District Attorney Lynne Abraham to go to Harrisburg. And at the heart of Street's plans will be a frontal assault on Harrisburg, the keeper of all gun laws.
In his letter to Rendell, Street noted that Harrisburg has been quick to pass special legislation affecting the city, often against the city's wishes.
Gun regulation is another "special need," Street said. "We need tighter controls not only to protect our children and families but also to protect our law enforcement officers who are at risk every day," Street wrote.
He also told Rendell that the city has 28,000 active carry permits, compared to just 16,000 in New York City.
"We were compelled to issue more gun permits in Philadelphia in one year, 2003, than there are permits in the entire state of New Jersey," Street asserted.
If he had his way, Street said he would deal with handguns roughly the same way he wants to restrict second-hand cigarette smoke - a virtual ban.
Street said he sees few reasons for people to be packing heat in an urban setting. "For what? Why are they carrying? They're not hunters."
Though the list of carry permits is peppered with the names of politicians and judges, Street said it's not for him. "I've always been very reluctant personally about carrying a weapon," Street said. "Part of it is that I'm fortunate to have the common sense to understand that if you have a gun you might use a gun."
The mayor is considering a 90-day moratorium on issuing carry permits or simply reducing the staff of 12 police officers who now handle the work to some smaller number, thereby slowing the process.
In October 1995, the General Assembly eliminated Philadelphia's authority to set its own standards for carry permits, placing the city on the same footing as the rest of the state.
When the police department handled the matter, Johnson said staff conducted a thorough background check on the individual who also was required to justify the carry request. By contrast, Johnson said Pennsylvania now has "the most lenient gun laws in the entire country. You can't do this in New York or the state of New Jersey."
Johnson said current law enables a gun buyer to distribute 10 guns to 10 people.
"If a crime occurs using one of those guns, the person who bought them has no responsibility. That has to change. He should be responsible for that gun at least to the point if its missing or stolen that he has to report it right away," Johnson said.
But is the gun violence washing over this city related in any way to the carry permits held by 28,000 Philadelphians? Street balked at the question, instead arguing that there are just too many handguns in the city.
The issue, he said, is that in other states, "you may have a permit to have a gun in your home but that doesn't mean you are authorized to carry it as you walk all around the streets."
And how does he expect to convince a gun-loving legislature to carve out a special legal zone for the state's largest city?
"When you get enough tragedy, people will soften their position and they will understand the rationale for curbing the availability of these guns," Street said. "We are going to have to keep fighting this fight."
Typical liberal knee-jerk reaction. The kind of people who are killing each other with guns in Philadelphia don't bother with the niceties of getting a permit.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Weapons Grade barf alert..!
Philly wants to put a ban on gun permits. Are these people even from the same planet. Who do they think this will protect?
Exactly wrong!
Not ENOUGH people get/have gun carry permits
Did I happen to miss where in all the fear-mongering statistics was the number of permit carriers who had committed any violence or crime using their permitted weapons? Or how many of weapons used in crimes and violence were acquired illegally?
Good questions. I'm looking for the stats.
...Street said. "Part of it is that I'm fortunate to have the common sense to understand that if you have a gun you might use a gun."
LOL! There's your problem. Take the quiz Mayor Street.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/common_cents/index.html
Except, of course, for the security for himself and other high city officials...
Arizona passed the same kind of preemption law a few years back to prevent cities and towns from having all different kinds of gun laws. Before that, there was a patchwork quilt of areas where you were and weren't allowed to carry concealed, and it was a nightmare to try to figure out if you were legal or not.
Kudos to the newspaper for asking this question in the article:
"But is the gun violence washing over this city related in any way to the carry permits held by 28,000 Philadelphians?"
Exactly the question that should have been addressed from the start. Does anyone know the answer?
Exactly how many permit holders were involved in the 11 homicides ?
Hey, Mayor.....HOW many acts of gun violence were by the hands of law abiding, gun permit holding citizens, hmm?
My guess...ZERO But, let's not let facts get in the way of your feeeeeeeelings.
But the suckers who vote Dem will believe this guy.
If he sics his P chief on law abiding citizens and turns them into the bad guys, it appears to the dummies that elected him, that he is doing something. After all, he can't control the killers and if he lets folks defend themselves, it jeopardizes their protection scheme scam.
I think I'm fairly safe in guessing that the number is probably zero.
A permit to have a gun in your home? How transparent is the blind rage of these socialists?
Come on, you don't expect the MSM to actually ask that question do you?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.