Mayor John DeStefano
Posted on 06/12/2007 4:37:27 AM PDT by Puppage
(New Haven-WTNH) _ One group armed with guns is ready to make their New Haven neighborhood a safer place by patrolling in the area around Edgewood Park.
The Edgewood Park Defense Patrol will be patrolling the 16-block area from Whalley to Edgewood and Winthrop to West Park. They believe that the police are not doing their part to keep the streets safe.
Their uniform is a black tee-shirt with Edgewood Park Defense Patrol and their mission is to keep peace on the streets with armed bike patrols.
"It's certainly not the substitute that one would want but when you're missing what you're supposed to have and things are slipping out of hand then you're left with no choice but to do something about it," said Eliezer Greer.
Members of Yeshiva New Haven decided to take matters into their own hands after Rabbi Dov Greer was physically assaulted Sunday night. They say they've been appealing to the city for years with no results and are tired of sitting by while the vandalism, robberies and muggings increased.
"Being home with our families in the evenings is what we'd rather be doing than having to ensure that there's safety and security in the neighborhood," said Aviad Hack.
They will be patrolling in pairs every night from 6-10 PM, with one person carrying a concealed gun.
"Anyone who patrols with a gun in an attempt to use it as a deterrent is putting themselves and other citizens at risk and I absolutely discourage it," said Mayor John DeStefano.
DeStefano says he has looked at the deployment levels in the Edgewood Park area and believes the police coverage is sufficient. News Channel 8 saw squad cars and officers walking the beat, but one man who is running for mayor, says he does not believe in vigilantism, but supports the residents move to protect their neighborhood.
"Perhaps it's time to look at contacting the Governor and asking the Governor to provide state police department's oversight in helping New Haven," said Jim Newton of New Haven.
The Defense Patrol says that they don't believe this will make them targets, rather it will wake up the neighborhood and encourage others to join in. They say they will continue the patrols as long as necessary.
Yet, he encourages illegal aliens.
Soon to be EX-Mayor...
Unfortunately, you left the citizens no choice but to protect themselves and their property.
hmmmmmmm - sounds vaguely familiar.
I applaud the people of the Edgewood neighborhood for doing the right thing and standing up to the troublemakers. Mayor DeStefano has fallen down on the job bigtime.
Whalley Ave. One place of several in my life I had my personal protection in my hand. As an on the road salesman, the company car was on the fumes, it was an hour past sunset. With one hand on the pump handle, my back to the pump, and my PP concealed in my hand under my open coat, I filled the tank. Not a nice place.
It is......if you're a bullet.
cue the aclu (american CRIMINAL liberties union). Anything that will weaken America they MUST step in and do. pathetic
Goes to show that even in deep blue states people have had enough of the support the law breaking folks.
FYI have CCW, CT, ME and resident state NH
BTW, I play tennis at Edgewood Park and never had any problems. Of course, half the players are New Haven police, firemen, one guy is a Conn. Supreme Court Justice and various other locals.
Then why did the cops waste all that money on guns?
AND! He thinks buying oil from a communist dictator is a good thing.
This makes sense to me but is still truly astounding. oreshadowing? The past is prelude.
I’d like to see how the liberal Yalies would act if their stone fortress were taken down and they had to integrate with the rest of the city.
Anyone who thinks it is the mayor’s (read government/police) job to protect them is missing the point. It is ALWAYS the individual’s responsibility to protect himself and his family. The police have NO duty to protect. Their charter is law enforcement, not personal protection. The logical solution to high crime is armed citizens (whether on patrol, or just out and about). Once the criminal element grasps the idea that there is a high probability of being thwarted by an armed citizen, they will find easier pickings.
God’s speed sheepdogs!
Stay alert.
Hmmmm.......I wonder if the good mayor has a security detail looking after HIM?
I just got to say, that is one large sales territory, especially in winter, my hat is off to you.
Thanks
If the curren mayor believes police coverage is “sufficient” and there is a crime level under that coverage that has lead to the belief the people having to take their own actions, does that mean the mayor believes that crime level is also acceptable?
Where do I sign up?
Here’s my only question:
“They will be patrolling in pairs every night from 6-10 PM, with one person carrying a concealed gun.”
Is this supposed to say at least one person carrying a concealed gun? If not, why is only one person carrying a gun? Doesn’t make sense to me....
The only problem I see with this scenario is what if the criminals start wearing these shirts so that they look like they are part of the patrol.
So often the term vigilantism is bandied about, especially by politicians with an agenda, to delegitimize self defense, which is a natural and reasonable reaction to threat. When the overworked police can’t be on the scene every moment of every day to protect citizens against criminals (which is not their job, anyway) citizens will fill the gap. More power to them, and I hope they do a good and honorable job.
Do criminals go home after 10pm?
“Do criminals go home after 10pm?”
Criminals need their milk and cookies before going to bed also. That’s okay, I’ll take the graveyard shift....
SIGN the Citizen’s Decree
to the President of the United States George W. Bush
Whereas, extremists in Congress are attempting to deny millions of honest citizens their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms; and
Whereas, gun control and gun ban laws do nothing to keep weapons out of the hands of the murderers or terrorists; and
Whereas, gun bans and gun confiscation would also punish honest citizens while doing nothing to prevent crime; and
Whereas, the times you compromised with the leftists in Congress the nation and your political approval ratings suffered greatly!
Therefore, I urge you to stand firm and veto every anti-gun rights bill that passes both the United States House and Senate.
Respectfully submitted as evidenced by my Signature Information below.
Yes, I agree, every anti-gun rights bill the gun grabbers in Congress pass must be vetoed by President Bush. That’s why I am signing this Citizen’s Decree and/or making an emergency donation.
https://secure.bcentralhost.com/ccrkba.org/citizens.decree.asp
Roger that! This is a must read to understand the issue!
http://www.firearmsandliberty.com/kasler-protection.html
AND! he thinks that appeasing terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan is a good thing too
Protecting yourself and neighborhood is not “vigilantism”.
PING!!!
Re “To Protect and Serve” Suggest you check out the book “DIAL 911 AND DIE.” With the exception of two states, law enforcement officers do NOT have the legal duty of protecting citizens. There is a good bit of case law cited in the book, and examples of situations showing with out qualification this fact.
Sorry, but “To Protect and Serve” is a marketing slogan, nothing more (first seen in Kalifornia?).
Tis a shame, but true.
Not offended. Technically is as technically does...
The “protect and serve” motto was in fact introduced by the LAPD 1965 (article shows 1955, likely a type from context)
http://www.lapdauthors.com/los_angeles_police_department_history.html
Well thankfully, you were not referring to the movie, “Kalifornia” - LOL - had me worried for a minute there!!
Welcome to Free Republic.
I would love to see JimRob post a poll asking how many FReepers own self-defense firearms. And the frequency of range practice.
Governor Comb-Over?
“...Members of Yeshiva New Haven decided to take matters into their own hands after Rabbi Dov Greer was physically assaulted Sunday night...They will be patrolling in pairs every night from 6-10 PM, with one person carrying a concealed gun...”
Typical political double talk. For the people that don't like the patrols, he's calling them vigilantes. And for the people that like them, he says he supports them. Jeez dude, pick a side.
I’m not knocking CCW but IMHO open carry might be more effective. A pair of honest citizens with pump 12 gauges would probably have a much more chilling effect on criminals.
but one man who is running for mayor, says he does not believe in but supports the residents move to protect their neighborhood.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigilante
“Anyone who patrols with a gun in an attempt to use it as a deterrent is putting themselves and other citizens at risk and I absolutely discourage it,” said Mayor John DeStefano.
So his police won’t protect citizens and he opposes citizens protecting themselves!
Good question. Reliable, quality built pistols aren't cheap. So if New Haven's street thugs really are immune to bullets as the mayor seems to think, just give the cops a whistle like the Brits do and save the taxpayers a bundle of money.
But if the mayor doesn't mind, I think I'll continue carrying something a little more lethal than a whistle down here where I live.
To Serve And Protect.... it’s not the responsibility of police to keep anyone safe. They’re Law Enforcement Officers. Largely, it IS their job to clean up after the fact. Everyone has the responsibility to protect themselves and others around them.
Idiot.
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