Murders soar in wake of Katrina refugees

News.Telegraph ^ | 01/01/2006 | Jacqui Goddard

[cougar_mccxxi]

The city of Houston is appealing for emergency funding to help to fight a huge crime wave following the arrival of refugees from hurricane-hit New Orleans.

The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass.

[cougar_mccxxi]

Anyone need the adopt-a-Katrina-refugee contact number? :)

[John Jorsett]

Quagmire.

[Hardastarboard]

The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass.

Ah, yes, the truth hurts, as the old saying goes.

[mlc9852]

Why are people afraid of facts?

[emiller]

Won't someone think of the chillrens? Where were the buses?!!

[Crawdad]

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Mark was here]

"The city [Houston]is experiencing an opposite trend to New Orleans, where police say they have never seen things so quiet, with only two killings in four months."

So having a hurricane is a good way to reduce crime?

[quantim]

Criminals who relocated as a result of a natural disaster does not meet the definition of 'refugee.'

[Fenris6]

So what are they saying? If one is part of the "black underclass" that more tolerance for their crime should be shown to them?

"The soft bigotry of low expectations" - Bush

[C210N]

Now bear with me, as I'm from MA... however, I'm curious. What's the difference in gun laws between TX and LA? Is LA a state like here in MA? (well, no state could be like here in MA!). Don't criminal elements, relocated to TX, know their victims can fight back?

[sure_fine]

just making themselves at home

[GOPJ]

Quagmire.

A "burn" on soooooooooo many levels...

[quantim]

So far they just haven't picked the 'right' targets.

[t1b8zs]

Whats the dif in the Katrina Exodus and the Marielle Boat Lift?
I don't see any...

[CajunConservative]

LA has about the same laws as TX.

http://www.packing.org/state/louisiana/

[q_an_a]

think of it like this - drug and crime gangs leave NO and go to Houston seeking to hold on to their former cash flow, but there is a similar group of players already in Houston, well armed and well connected to the local environment. Going to be a high turnover in the people who are able to be in the businessof crime.

[daybreakcoming]

A good synopsis q. It goes down into the Houston schools also.

[libstripper]

Looks like those is Houston who don't have CCW permits beter apply and START PACKING HEAT.

[dinodino]

What a shock.

[ßuddaßudd]

You can take the man out of the jungle, but you cant take the jungle out of the man.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I knew a Canadian whose uncle joined the USAF, served in Vietnam, retired after 20 and became a parole officer in New Orleans. Uncle characterized his clients more or less as all dumb and owning guns.

[monday]

" Don't criminal elements, relocated to TX, know their victims can fight back?"

"but says that at least 12 homicides in the past four months have involved evacuees either as victims or perpetrators."

They appear to be learning.

[DogBarkTree]

It's another Viet Nam! What is our exit strategy?

[kittymyrib]

The Bryan, TX, police picked up a bunch of drug dealers on New Year's Eve...yep, NO evacuees. The sooner we ship this scum out of Texas the better. We certainly did not need to import more criminals since our jails are full. Gov. Perry better have an exit strategy for these crooks.

[bert]

Perhaps the old media should begin a Katrina murder count. Does the rate of Katrina exceed the rate of dead soldiers?

[stephenjohnbanker]

New Orleans scum are as bad as the Murielitos.

[BunnySlippers]

Conversely, New Orleans police have never seen things so quiet (says the article) ... only 2 murders in 4 months!

[ladyjane]

at least 12 homicides in the past four months have involved evacuees

These people were 'evacuated' four months ago and have been sheltered in TX since then. They are not evacuees any longer. They are refugees or possibly shelterees.

[jdm]

The buses? Nagin is getting to them right now.

[LucyJo]

The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass.

The issue is "highly sensitive"??? That is "highly" ridiculous! If "the issue" is to be dealt with effectively they'd better focus on actions rather than skin color. I can't imagine that anyone's major concern is skin color when they are facing a perp bent on murder. We'd all be better off if "society" was less "sensitive" about these "issues", and more colorblind. Good or bad behavior is not determined by skin color, and it shouldn't be rewarded or excused because of it - basic common sense that is easily understood by all.

[festus]

Why are people afraid of facts?

Because when you use facts you don't arrive at the conclusion you are supposed to ..... ;-)

[JimRed]

Is this another of the "they're shooting at the rescue choppers" or "there's a firefight going on in the Superdome" items of disinformation?

[Dawgreg]

Yeah, it's called "turf". Maybe they'll ALL off each other. Problem solved.

[mad_as_he$$]

umm the Telegraph? Has anybody conformed this with the City of Houston? The Telegraph is not too far away from Debka. Get it right sometimes, but stab in the dark a lot.

[appeal2]

I guess its up there with abortion.

[appeal2]

Hopefully they will learn quickly. I believe LA had fairly liberal gun laws.

[JimRed]

The Bryan, TX, police picked up a bunch of drug dealers on New Year's Eve...yep, NO evacuees.

At first reading I interpreted that to mean no evacuees, with a "loud" NO for emphasis. Of course, you meant NOLA.

[longfellow]

Can't you carry a concealed weapon in Texas? This is the perfect reason for the application.

[CajunConservative]

Kind of more agenda driven "news". The original AP article stated that 8 of 121 murders were by evacuees. So who killed the other 113 people. Of course one murder is too many.

[mewzilla]

Houston should bill Ray Nagin.

[ol' hoghead]

Texas has a must issue licensing system. The requirements are listed in Texas statutes, Government Code, Title 4, Section 411.172.

[ol' hoghead]

Cut and paste this url www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Lotsa places to look.

[polymuser]

They found a new village.

[mad_as_he$$]

Just wondered.

[VOA]

bump

[robertpaulsen]

"If "the issue" is to be dealt with effectively they'd better focus on actions"

They have been. Now they're asking 'why' and the reason 'why' is highly sensitive to some while to others it's, "Well, duh!".

[billhilly]

"Looks like those is Houston who don't have CCW permits beter apply and START PACKING HEAT."

The Hustonians involved neither want permits, nor would they qualify for them in most situations. It is one criminal element killing another, and legal guns would be a "dead giveaway."