A Citizens' Army Grows in New Orleans

time.com ^ | 04/04/07 | Russell McCulley

[Tarpon]

To repel boarders, nothing beats a short barreled 12 ga.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This is the oldest con in the book from gun grabbers...

[Kirkwood]

Sounds exactly like any other major city. At least in NO, the concierage warns you. Go anywhere else and they cover it up. For me the worst city anywhere for crime is Milan Italy. Full of gypsy thieves from ages 8 to 80. I was approached by pickpockets less than 1 minute after getting off the train and hounded for the rest of the trip there by thieves invading my space and following me around. After hiding out in my hotel for most of the trip I was robbed by 2 men while going to the airport. I feel a hundred times safer in NO than I do in Milan.

[ClaireSolt]

About ten years ago, my brother’s house was robbed in NO. The cops told him to get a gun.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A very sad story, indeed. Its good that the cops were honest enough to admit their shortcomings.
I used to visit NO every spring for the big commercial boat show at the Dome. As a fuel supplier, I had a number of tow boat customers to visit with and wined and dined them or was wined and dined by them in the course of three or four days. I never had an unpleasant experience in a cab, hotel or restaurant. Guess I was just lucky...

[Clock King]

New Orleans Police Department sergeant Donovan Livaccari.

Hey Sarge, are YOU going to give up your gun, because it might be taken away from you? Nah, I didn't think so. What the hell good are you "protectors" good for anyway?

[Basheva]

*****I feel a hundred times safer in NO than I do in Milan.****

Well, I’m not going back to New Orleans - and now I’ve added Milan to my list.

We weren’t warned by the concierge - we were warned by a taxi driver - not the one who ripped us off.

[panthermom]

My brothers are cops, they have given family members guns for Christmas. They think people are nuts not to have a gun in the house.

[R. Scott]

I recently watched a segment on the evening news. It was made clear that it was the Feds fault (President Bush’s) - not enough aid was being given to the poor so they had to turn to drug dealing to survive! Drug dealing brought violent crime.

[islander-11]

I’m a cop and I’m here to say that people need to play an active role in their own defense.

I believe in the 2nd Amendment. It makes me crazy when another cop suggests that people should remain sheep-like.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

in a holdup, a gun-waving victim is more likely to end up shot than one who simply hands over money an idiot who has no business handling a gun until you learn the first rule of a gun. You pull it to USE it , not to "wave it" like some cheerleader waving a pom pom.

[ansel12]

It’s kind of an odd story, I don’t understand how Stephanie Pedro fits in as the named, main character in this article about carrying guns.

[archy]

in a holdup, a gun-waving victim is more likely to end up shot than one who simply hands over money an idiot who has no business handling a gun until you learn the first rule of a gun. You pull it to USE it ,

That's not the first rule of a gunfight at all.

[Charles Martel]

Arming yourself with money to give to thugs is not exactly the way the Founding Fathers/ citizens’ militia did it.

I've seen that discussed in "concealed carry" threads on other web forums. It's foolish to draw a gun against someone who is already pointing a gun at your head, so a small amount of cash (often in an old wallet without I.D., credit cards, etc.) is used to make the thug beleive you've meekly complied. That often affords the victim chance to draw their own weapon and turn the tables.

Seems worth it to me.

[El Gato]

Pedro's roommate nixed that idea.

Time for a new roommate.

[Popocatapetl]

What you do is get 20 $1 bills, then wrap them with a $20 bill with a rubber band. Then pull it out of your pocket, hold it up for the mugger to see the $20, then toss it away.

When he goes for it, then you ventilate him. Be sure to pick up your money before you go. You might even take his wallet as a memento.

[wafflehouse]

When I walk my dog, I have a 20-dollar bill in one pocket and mace in the other

wow. having to keep mugger money on you when you go outside? blows my mind.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

That's not the first rule of a gunfight at all.

Heh

[PAR35]

I could not believe I read that.

Many years ago, I lived in an "urban" area. The social compact was that if you carried at least $20 for the mugger, and turned it over without a fuss, they weren't supposed to shoot you, and you shouldn't have to give them your wallet.

Fortunately, I never had to participate, but I never went out without a spare $20.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

In Chapel Hill NC, there is a pizza place called "Gumby's." About 10 years ago, some kid was delivering pizzas and ran across two "youths" who brandished weapons, and demanded his money. They never noticed that he kept his hand IN the pizza bag warmer the whole time. Here is the conversation:
"Are you threatening me with bodily harm?" (no kidding, this is from the transcripts)
they gave him something that was an affirmative
"Are you planning to shoot me"
one of them responded with something to the effect of "maybe, but we sure will if you don't hand over your money"
The kid shot both of them thru the bag, mortally wounding one of them, and seriously injuring the other. I knew a cop on the Chapel Hill force and that is where I got the info. Chapel Hill is a VERY anti gun town, but this kid never faced charges on the shoot.