Posted on 04/15/2009 1:48:00 AM PDT by appleseed
STOCKTON - A retired truck driver and Vietnam War veteran said Monday that he is forming an armed militia - mostly men with rifles and armbands, four to a car - to patrol Stockton this summer, when at least 43 police officers are to be laid off.
Alan Pettet, 66, said he has recruited 18 men, most of whom are ex-military. He said the militia will train at a firing range and "activate" if the city lays off any officer, as it intends by July 1.
The likelihood of an armed militia materializing is uncertain - there are legal concerns, and posturing to influence City Hall is not uncommon - but for a neighborhood activist even to advance such a proposal was indicative of frustration about Stockton's awful budget forecast. The City Council is expected by July 1, the start of fiscal 2009-10, to order police layoffs and spending reductions citywide to balance a general fund budget that is otherwise expected to be $31million in deficit by June 2010.
Pettet, a midtown neighborhood activist who has a Desert Eagle pistol, said militiamen will detain suspected criminals and call police to arrest them. They will wear armbands and will patrol in a car marked by a magnetic sign, he said.
"It's going to be 'Stockton Armed Militia,'" Pettet said. "'SAM' for short."
Neither the Police Department nor the city administration was impressed.
"We are not at the point that we need to have armed militias patrolling Stockton," Vice Mayor Kathy Miller said.
Mayor Ann Johnston said, "Oh, no no no no, no no no. ... We don't want armed citizens out there who are not trained."
That it is illegal in most circumstances in California to carry a loaded firearm in one's car did not disturb Pettet.
(Excerpt) Read more at recordnet.com ...
I HIGHLY doubt the city would be willing to pay this because they would become liable for any events that might occur with a band of individuals the city didn't individually select. And to be honest, I wouldn't really blame the city given the propensity for lawsuits in this nation.
“Mayor Ann Johnston said, “Oh, no no no no, no no no. ... We don’t want armed citizens out there who are not trained.”
“Oh, no no no—I’m gonna wet my panties here...”
TC
You’re right, but I can certainly understand the man’s frustration.
These are just the kind of “extremists” that DHS is worried about.
I applaud the city, for at least looking like they would do what is necessary to balance the budget, UNLIKE the STATE of CA.
In the absence of law enforcement, it is understandable that a militia would form. But any such militia could not begin to competently perform the duties of regular officers, who work 24/7 in all types of weather. However, Stockton does not appear to be in danger of having a lack of sufficient police officers.
Weather in Stockton CA that harsh, is it?
I understand his frustration as well. I'm just saying that his chances of getting paid is slim and none...and slim left town.
So do I... Stockton is an unbelievable mess...
Between the gang bangers, illegals, methamphetamine and Bay Area liberals who commute... don't get me started...
I was on a weekend visit last year with a friend of mine who is Stockton P.D. and got an informal little "tour" of the town one Saturday night. Wow...
Few streets in california are safe at night things are getting out of control.
A couple of years ago I was at a baseball tournament in Lodi, not too far from Stockton, and it was 113 degrees. I would hate to have to be working in that kind of weather doing ANYTHING. The point being though that the militia men might decide on any given day not to "patrol" because of unpleasant weather, whereas the police don't have a choice in the matter and must respond to calls for service.
The article says Stockton has one of the highest crime rates in the state. I say give them some light bars (orange), radio's and wear some distinctive clothing. Their visual presence could be an asset. And make sure their mission is to observe and report only, unless life is in danger.
A Veteran who is concerned about the safety and security of his community. Yep, his image has probably been downloaded into the facial recognition database.
the reaction of the council is typical lib BS...if you need to cut, cut police and fire first, but do not touch the politicians benefits or pay....hell, there is more than likely so much waste in the budget that it would be easy to cut out the fat....these guys should go down to city hall and demand a copy of the proposed line item budget...a quick look will find all the cuts they need to make without touching a police officer or fire fighter... I have done this and it pisses the pols off big time, hell, just asking for a copy of the budget starts a firestorm of a show down at the city hall.....try it, it is good cheap entertainment
Yeaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuhhhh. More likely no one is willing to buy their bonds.
Stockton: The best thing for that place would be to bring the USS Canbarra back up to Rough and Ready and shell the place with its 8 inch guns.
I worked a few days a month in Stockton in the 80’s. The drift downward was visible to anyone who cared to notice during that time. At its then rate of downward trajectory, I cannot imagine what it is like now. More to the point, it is not an anomoly in Ca. California has just gotten to where many of the other states are heading because of unrestrained social spending as they have been the first to hit the wall wherein taxes cannot sustain any more debt.
Just as many over leveraged corporations have to unwind their leverage these days, so will Ca.
The fallout will not be pretty.
Vince
In 1987 the City of Albuquerque police department went out on strike. The whole state held its breath waiting for the explosion of crime. Armed citizens patroled the streets, trying to prevent what they could.
Crime rates went down.
Profiling, right?
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