St. Petersburg shootings spur gun buyback plan

[Hazcat]

By Emily Nipps, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Apr 23, 2009 03:22 PM



ST. PETERSBURG — In response to a string of recent shootings, police and community activists Friday will announce a "gun buyback" program aimed at reducing the number of guns on the streets.

The initiative is one of several measures that have been proposed since 8-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton was shot to death April 5 by gunmen who peppered her Preston Avenue home with more than 50 rounds from semiautomatic weapons.

Police later seized a cache of weapons, including two AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, when they arrested three suspects in the case.

"I wonder what would have happened had someone told on that cache of weapons before they had a chance to use them," said state Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.

Rouson hopes a gun buyback and other programs will encourage people to report crime and change a long-standing "no snitching" culture in St. Petersburg's black community.

Rouson said he will be in Tallahassee Friday but was writing a statement supporting the program to be read at a morning news conference at City Hall. Details of the program were unavailable. Police declined to comment.

Several Florida counties, including Pinellas and Hillsborough, have experimented with gun buybacks, with mixed success. The programs have been known to fizzle out or run out of funds after a few years.

St. Petersburg NAACP president Ray Tampa said he's also proposing a statewide "Paris Line" — in the spirit of the Amber Alert — to encourage people to report illegal guns and gangs in their neighborhoods. He and Rouson have discussed the proposal but no legislation has been drafted.

Tampa said he also would like the city to change Preston Avenue to Paris Avenue in memory of the slain girl.

Rousson said he also plans to distribute free, disposable video cameras in St. Petersburg to encourage people to record drug deals, gang fights and other illegal activity to turn over to police.

An NAACP-sponsored march against violence starts at 10 a.m. Saturday in Bartlett Park. The march follows a string of shootings that has shaken the community.

On Monday, a Lexus with bullet holes from semiautomatic gunfire was found in an 18th Avenue S church parking lot after an apparent chase and reports of shots being fired in at least four locations in the city. Tuesday night, a 16-year-old bystander watching a fight in Childs Park was wounded when someone fired into the crowd.

Rouson said he is frustrated. He supports any initiative, however big or small, that brings awareness to the problem, he said. But marches and sporadic news reports aren't going to be as effective as stronger police action and government initiatives.

"Frankly, I'm about tired of the marching," Rouson said. "Instead of marching in streets, we need to be marching into somebody's house or marching into someone's apartment. There's more of us than there is of them."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article994704.ece#comments

Comments at link

Personally I have a couple old POS blank guns I might sell em

[twyacht]

quote,...
Rouson said he is frustrated. He supports any initiative, however big or small, that brings awareness to the problem, he said. But marches and sporadic news reports aren't going to be as effective as stronger police action and government initiatives.

"Frankly, I'm about tired of the marching," Rouson said. "Instead of marching in streets, we need to be marching into somebody's house or marching into someone's apartment. There's more of us than there is of them."

These kind of blanket statements from LEO's. led to the Katrina violations and seizures.

They drag the law-abiding into the mix of the scumbags...Often LEO's can be "blinded" due to the Hell they see day in and day out. But they have to maintain perspective, and fundamental RESPECT for the law abiding citizenry, that support them, respect them, and carry firearms.

WE'RE NOT THE PROBLEM!

Sidenote, I was pulled over for an improper lane change,  while on the way to the Markham Park range at 8:00 a.m. on a Sat.

After pointing out the roadside debris and car in front of me that came to an almost dead stop in the middle of a highway because of the debris, I told him where I was going and what I had in my vehicle,....

He smiled, acknowledged the debris, thanked me for my honesty, and told me to "enjoy my range time".

That's how it's supposed to work. Not these statements that make a slash & burn policy regarding firearms.

Go get the BG's, the LEO'S know who they are,... and leave ME alone.

[brosometal]

I have a solution to the budget problems our fine friends in local government:  Part out the guns that are seized in lawless activities, much like the auctions for other seized property.  I have a lower that I can't get the simplest of parts for and some retard would like to render useless an item that would be better served, owned by law abiding citizens. 

If the jackdonkeys in St. Pete knew that errant gun fire would result in return fire and their grizzly deaths in the streets they hold so dear, I believe there would be a different attitude in regards to the said errant gunfire.

And please save me the, "More gunfire means more deaths" tripe.  We are suppose to learn from history.  Let me ask a question.  In the West there were a lot of guns, right?  If these same jackdonkey's ancestors attempted the same sort of "drive by" they would be dispatched, forthwith by citizens with a bit better eye for aimed gunfire.

[tombogan03884]

I have a solution to the budget problems our fine friends in local government:  Part out the guns that are seized in lawless activities, much like the auctions for other seized property.  I have a lower that I can't get the simplest of parts for and some retard would like to render useless an item that would be better served, owned by law abiding citizens. 

If the jackdonkeys in St. Pete knew that errant gun fire would result in return fire and their grizzly deaths in the streets they hold so dear, I believe there would be a different attitude in regards to the said errant gunfire.

And please save me the, "More gunfire means more deaths" tripe.  We are suppose to learn from history.  Let me ask a question.  In the West there were a lot of guns, right?  If these same jackdonkey's ancestors attempted the same sort of "drive by" they would be dispatched, forthwith by citizens with a bit better eye for aimed gunfire.

Northfield Minn. Coffeyville Kansas. Need I say more ?

[Hazcat]

Northfield Minn. Coffeyville Kansas. Need I say more ?

THANK YOU, Tom!

I was thinking the same thing yesterday when I read Brosos' comment and FOR THE LIFE OF ME I couldn't remember the 'where'.  It was driving me crazy!

[Sponsor]

[tt11758]

THANK YOU, Tom!

I was thinking the same thing yesterday when I read Brosos' comment and FOR THE LIFE OF ME I couldn't remember the 'where'.  It was driving me crazy!

Haz, I fear that for you, much like for me, "crazy" is a fairly short drive.   

[Hazcat]

Haz, I fear that for you, much like for me, "crazy" is a fairly short drive.   

Just pop the clutch! 

[tombogan03884]

Sounds like St Petersburg would BENEFIT from a lot more shootings as long as law abiding citizens were not impeded by meddling State Reps.

[Hazcat]

Sounds like St Petersburg would BENEFIT from a lot more shootings as long as law abiding citizens were not impeded by meddling State Reps.

We need to line up shoulder to shoulder on Central Ave and march South!

[tt11758]

We need to line up shoulder to shoulder on Central Ave and march South!

Sounds like a pleasant afternoon stroll to me.