Posted on 12/02/2008 4:03:25 PM PST by neverdem
ST. LOUIS — Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe's neighborhood has seen nine homicides in 10 months this year, more than all but one other section of the city.
With gunplay wreaking havoc on his ward, Troupe thinks he has found an answer: citizens arming themselves.
The alderman is pleading with constituents to get guns of their own — and learn how to use them. Troupe, who represents a swatch of north St. Louis, is encouraging residents to apply for concealed weapons permits so they can start carrying a firearm.
The city's new police chief, among others, worries that introducing even more guns into high-crime areas is a recipe for greater turmoil, not less.
Troupe, however, says he has lost faith in the Police Department and is urging residents to take it upon themselves to protect their homes and property.
"These are God-fearing people. These are law-abiding citizens," Troupe, 72, says. "They have a right to own a gun, and they have a right to carry a gun."
RECRUITING RESIDENTS
The state Legislature approved Missouri's "conceal and carry" law in 2003, even after voters rejected a referendum four years earlier allowing individuals to possess a hidden firearm.
Troupe, a former state representative, says he supported concealed weapons legislation while in Jefferson City, and supports it now.
He declined to say whether he carries a gun. He is encouraging others to do so because, he says, some parts of St. Louis are just too dangerous.
"You stop to help somebody that's in need of help, and you end up getting shot and killed," Troupe said, referring to the Nov. 5 slaying of St. Louis firefighter Leonard Riggins, shot during a carjacking by a someone he thought was a motorist in need of assistance.
Though the shooting was north of the city line, the...
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
God bless him.
Now there's a breath of fresh air!
The city's new police chief, among others, worries that introducing even more guns into high-crime areas is a recipe for greater turmoil, not less.
Tough shi cookies, jerk.
Good for Alderman Troupe! And I read the first four pages of comments & was thrilled to see lots of folks in favor of citizen concealed carry. I was sure the loons would be out, but rational people still appear to be in St. Louis.
can he come govern massachusetts? Please we’ll give you guys mitt romney
That’s the way to do it!
Ping!
I’ve got an idea of how to make a good thing better.
Take up a collection to buy guns and carry permits for honest, hard-working poor people. Being poor doesn’t mean you are dishonorable, but it often does mean that you live in a higher crime neighborhood. So a gun is even more important.
The best bet would be to buy a bunch of standard, smaller caliber handguns and ammunition wholesale. The assumption has to be that they are less familiar with firearms, so you want to shoot for “user friendly”. Easy to clean guns and inexpensive ammo.
This would mean more guns in the hands of more people, at a lower price.
Hope this is a sign of progress.
revolvers in .38 Special come to mind
On guns, he’ll have a completely different and opposite opinion next year, his track record suggests.
Low volume ping list
FReepmail me to be on, or off, this list.
From the looks of the crime statistics in his neighborhood, I’d say almost everyone is packing heat! You wouldn’t catch me anywhere near that area!
Yeah, it wasn’t Lacy Clay stating this for sure. I live in the county and am quite surprised that a City Alderman made this statement. Very out of character for a DemocRATically controlled/still racially divided city.
The County is not part of the City, separate governments, same basic DemocRATic composition however.
That’s just crazy enough to work.
“You wouldn’t catch me anywhere near that area!”
Actually, it isn’t too bad where I work, between Goodfellow and Union south of I-70. It’s just getting to and from work that can be dicey. :-)
http://safecity.slmpd.org/MapMain.htm
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