Posted on 11/18/2006 7:19:22 PM PST by sitetest
Dear oceanview,
The Fox report indicated that the "federal officer" was off-duty.
sitetest
The armed Federal officer will get blamed... nanny state.
"Given that there is no indication whether the suspects are still at large, why does the race of the participants matter in an breaking news story? Should they put the race of the people involved in every news story?"
Not EVERY news story but yes, certainly in those where it is definitely part of the story.
Race has a ridiculously high coefficient of correlation with THIS particular type of crime.
Dear EyeGuy,
First, the report says, "gang-style," not "gang-related."
Second, from what I've read, St. Louis is a predominantly black city. Anne Arundel County, Maryland, isn't.
I grew up in adjacent Prince George's County, MD, during a period when the schools were desegregated through forced busing, and the county when from being majority white to majority black.
I can tell you that in the year and a half I spent in public schools after busing started, I saw plenty of white gangs, and saw my fair share of violence between gangs, usually between clashing white and black gangs.
I know that there have been racial tensions at least from time to time in some of Anne Arundel County's schools. I wouldn't be surprised by a clash between whites and blacks, and I wouldn't be surprised if a white guy [or a black guy, or both] brought a gun to the fight. I've personally seen both.
sitetest
Dear EyeGuy,
"Not EVERY news story but yes, certainly in those where it is definitely part of the story."
Why would it definitely be part of this story?
sitetest
It took the news a couple of hours to get a firm idea of how many were shot- why do you expect the race to be reported instantly?
Race has a ridiculously high coefficient of correlation with THIS particular type of crime.
Yes but in the first few hours with no indication of there being suspects at large, it isn't exactly the most important fact to be reported. I would want to know whether innocent bystanders were shot first- no matter what race they were.
Well, as I said, perhaps things are different in Maryland.
As far as St. Louis, only part of the CITY of St. Louis is predominately black, and is virulently dangerous (see latest chart-topping FBI crime statistics). The rest of the city and the much larger suburban area is famously peaceful and family-oriented.
We haven't had white gangs in this metroplex since Prohibition.
"Why would it definitely be part of this story?"
Because gang-related gun violence is almost always among blacks. If you adjust for population percentages the tendency is hideous.
I'm not happy at all about this as you seem to think. I just believe that the problem will never be solved if it is not examined in the clear light of day.
I work at the hospital they were taken to. 3 were flown to the Shock & Trauma hospital.
Stupid gangs! What a waste!
"Yes but in the first few hours with no indication of there being suspects at large, it isn't exactly the most important fact to be reported."
Fair enough about the timeliness of the story, but that wasn't my main point.
Do you think that when these "youths" are caught 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months from now, that the media will report on their race and the correlation of race with this sort of crime?
Somebody upthread cited white, Christian southern boy Richard Jewell as an example of how the media can focus its microsope where it sees fit.
Dear EyeGuy,
"Well, as I said, perhaps things are different in Maryland."
Perhaps they are. Annapolis Mall serves mostly the south county, the city of Annapolis, Severna Park, and nearby areas. Most of these areas are predominantly white. The county is about 81% white, about 14% black. Annapolis Mall is in the more affluent part of the county, and that part of the county is modestly whiter than the rest (although it's tough to get much more white than 81%).
"We haven't had white gangs in this metroplex since Prohibition."
I don't know how you define gangs. When I was in school, there were groups of folks who hung out together, who sometimes committed crimes together, who protected each other, and who identified themselves as members of their groups. These folks often had long-running conflicts with other groups of similar description.
Some were white, some were black. It wasn't a very nice time in my life.
Anyway, I don't know who is a real thug and who is pretending when I walk through Annapolis Mall. But I've noticed for some years, now, that substantial numbers of adolescent and young adult males dressed like thugs hang out in the Mall at night, and most of these folks are white.
Not sure why it's an issue if there's no one on the run.
sitetest
Wow. Close to home.
No kidding I was planning to go to the Navy game, but decided to stay home and watch OSU and Mich.
Dear EyeGuy,
"Because gang-related gun violence is almost always among blacks."
Then it might be relevant in a commentary about gang-related gun violence.
I'm not sure it's relevant in a breaking story that may or may not even be about gang-related violence.
sitetest
Some secret service agents and families live in that general area. Not that far from DC.
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) -- Three people were shot Saturday evening during what appeared to be a gangland-style confrontation in the food court of a Maryland shopping mall, and one was critically wounded.
Ray Leone, manager of the Borders Books & Music, said he heard at least 10 gunshots. Several of his employees were in the food court at the time of the shooting, and they told him an elderly couple was hit by stray bullets.
Dozens of people ran into the store after the shots rang out and were "very panicked," Leone said.
----snip----
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/11/18/maryland.shootings.ap/
Dear AUsome Joy,
"Some secret service agents and families live in that general area. Not that far from DC."
That's true. I've known a couple or so socially over the years. And federal officers and agents of other types, as well.
sitetest
Maybe some of our citizens will begin to see the problem!
The link at the top said an elderly couple were hit by stray bullets. Have you heard how they are doing?
Black-on-black violence is not exactly a big secret in the Baltimore-D.C. area. The most popular shows about Baltimore, for instance, have been "Homicide" and "The Wire", both showing week after week of violence in the streets of Baltimore. Now this is unusual because this is Annapolis, which is far from the violent zones of Baltimore City or D.C.
My parents live in Maryland. There was a shooting at the food court at a mall local to them within the last year. It's a nice area as well. I can't remember the mall but they are in Harford County.
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