Posted on 12/14/2017 5:19:52 PM PST by buckalfa
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice says he’s going to use the West Virginia National Guard to help Huntington respond to the current rash of violence that has resulted in a number of murders including three this week.
Gov. Jim Justice talks with WSAZ-TV Anchor Amanda Barren. “I’m going to call upon our National Guard,” Justice said during a Thursday town hall meeting on WSAZ-TV in Huntington. “Our National Guard has resources that can absolutely combat this thing.”
Justice said he couldn’t be specific but said the Guard would be working with other police agencies.
“That doesn’t mean setting a Humvee on every street corner. We can’t do that because the National Guard doesn’t get involved with law enforcement,” Justice said. “But between the National Guard, the state police and geat police of the City of Huntington we’re going to stop it.”
Huntington recorded its 19th murder Thursday morning when a person was found dead at a residence on 25th Street. Mayor Steve Williams said on MetroNews “Talkline” Thursday much of the violence is connected to a turf war between drug organizations.
“This is a result of the drug trade in our community. This is unacceptable and we want residents to know we are not acting alone,” Williams said.
Justice said Huntington has to get back to being a safe town. He said they must replace “drugs for jobs.” Justice said a high tech employer may be relocating in Huntington.
Justice, his wife and daughter all graduated from Marshall University.
“When I was here it (Huntington) was the great town in the world. Streets running one way, avenues running another way. It was a sweater-type of town. It was a town of total friendliness all the time. You never thought in any way of not being safe,” Justice said.
He can send state troopers to deal with the gang-bangers
Unless it is full blown anarchy, the guard has no business being on the streets.
Drug problem can easily be solved by putting troops on the border until a wall is built. Stop the problem at the source. We know where the drugs are coming from, but the prison-law enforcement-pharmaceutical industrial complex has too much power.
Thanks for Obama’s coal for drugs employment program.
Buford T. Justice.
Drug gangs, terrorists....what's the difference?
Imma venture a guess that drug dealers ain't gonna be potential high tech employees.
Cal National Guard was used during the Rodney King riots.
One of the main reasons for the National Guard is for the protection of the citizens of a State. Flood, Fires, EQ’s or
GANG BANGERS! Gov Justice is absolutely correct.
Are there massive riots in West Virginia that somehow never made it onto the news?
I grew up in Huntington. I lived in Westmoreland. My parents still live in the same house I grew up in. I visited this past October for Dad’s 80th birthday.
I was sad to see the state of my home town. Much of Adams Avenue needs to be bulldozed & redeveloped. The vacant homes were sad to see. Downtown looks like a shell of its former self.
While this saddens me a bit it comes as no surprise. As a working musician in the area during the late 80’s & very early 90’s I saw the drugs moving into town & into the bars & clubs. I saw cops talking to known coke dealers then. Club owners would pay the cops off & then as long as there was no violence, drug selling would be overlooked.
Then to make it worse the city started raising taxes & fees & and the population of the town gets ever smaller.
““This is a result of the drug trade in our community. This is unacceptable and we want residents to know we are not acting alone,” Williams said.”
This isn’t going to get any better until the drug peddlers start dying. And that goes for the whole country.
There doesn’t have to be “massive riots”. The killing of a state’s citizens by lawless elements is reason enough for a NG call out by the Governor. Gov Justice is correct in his actions as the NG Commander and Chief law enforcement officer of that State.
Illinois should have done this years ago when 100’s are killed in Chicago every year.
The actions in WV and Ill are not riots BUT are anarchy.
As of the 2010 census, the metropolitan area is the largest in West Virginia.
It spans 7 counties across 3 states, with a population of 365,419.
Huntington is the second largest city in West Virginia, with a population of 49,138 at the 2010 census. Murders - 19.
The Anchorage AK MSA has a population of 298,600.
We are up to 35 murders this year - and still counting.
Maybe we need the Army as well..... or fewer dopers.
If that murder level is the criterion for NG involvement, I guess Chicago requires the 82d Airborne Division????
We’re losing young people left and right near us to heroin.
The pro legalization crowd ticks me off.
Dealers need to put away for murder.
While I agree with closing the border, this is fueled by the pill farms. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/cops_and_courts/drug-firms-fueled-pill-mills-in-rural-wv/article_14c8e1a5-19b1-579d-9ed5-770f09589a22.html
I’m from the area, Ashland, and it is sad to see the blue collar employment picture. International Nickel, Conner Steel, Semet Solvey, A-K Steel, Ashland Oil, to name a few all gone or idled. All places my family and friends worked at. Marshall and Medical services are the largest employers. All service industry and fast food.
They need the higher paying energy jobs that Trump is championing. MAGA and make the Tri-State great again.
Ordinarily it requires a formal declaration of emergency to activate the Guard. Has that happened?
L
Drug dealers need dirt naps
Let the cops do their jobs......
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