Fort Myers police chief targets guns (Why Not Go After Criminals & Leave Citizens Alone?)

The News Press ^ | November 6, 2002 | SHARON TURCO, sturco@news-press.com

[Truth Telling Guy]

Actually those idiots were involved in a government program concerning violence and their criminal behavior. (It was called a diversion program.)

The program worked quite well, huh?

And the psychotropics and psychobabble worked well too huh? (They both saw a psychiatrist.)

[Travis McGee]

When was the last time there was a stickup at a gun show? Hmmm...

[Travis McGee]

Quite well indeed.

[Truth Telling Guy]

Got lots of gun control passed.

[demosthenes the elder]

well, let me see, now...
I have taught over 300 adults how to shoot pistols or rifles or both.
I have taught over 50 children how to shoot pistols or rifles or both.
I have subbed for the local game wardens in teaching hunting safety classes (which is a great deal - it lands me a lot of venison confiscated from poachers).
So far as I know, NONE of my students has EVER had an accidental discharge of any sort, far less an injurious or fatal one.
ALL of the kids I have taught (and I take 'em as young as 8 years old, if I think they are mature enough) know damn well what to do if they find a firearm lying about. If it is in a position where no one is likely to stumble across it, they are to leave it in place and get their parents or closest responsible relation - failing that, they are to get the police. If there is a chance that someone else might stumble upon the weapon, they know how to safely remove it to a secure location and do the alert-the-adults drill.
ALL OF MY STUDENTS BELOW THE AGE OF 18 GET THE WATERMELON LESSON.
Go ahead, ask... I dare ye ;)

[Woahhs]

Why shouldn't I be left alone and free to carry a gun in this crime ridden city that I live in? Or any other citizen anywhere else?

Um...sorry, that's not quite what he's saying. He said illegal guns, and as this is a city in Florida, it is not synonymous with concealed or carried guns.

It looks like they have a gang-banger problem or residents who won't call the law unless they need an ambulance too. I think the fact that 16 year olds are getting involved in arguements that result in shootings is instructive. There's nothing sinister here.

[Woahhs]

Okay. You people are officially "scaring me." You've built a local police chief up into a pocket nazi, and taken a "puff piece'' from a local newspaper and made it into a civilian brainwashing campaign.

THIS IS FLORIDA!

Unless you live here, you just don't get it. Florida and guns is like Texas and cactus.

[Truth Telling Guy]

So you don't feel you have a right to carry a weapon to defend yourself without the government's permission?

[Truth Telling Guy]

I would guess never ---- never a successful one atleast!!! LOL

[Rebelbase]

""When was the last time there was a stickup at a gun show? Hmmm"

As a group in general, the most polite people i've ever met have been those at gunshows.

[Vic3O3]

Yeah, you may have legal ccw, but how are you going to feel the 4th or 5th time you get shaken down by armed, nervous cops because they 'think' you're carrying? Even if you're totally legal, I bet you get sick & tired of the shakedown!

[Joe Brower]

As usual, the leftmedia deliberately clouds the "issue" they themselves raise by hiding one essential fact to this: all of these crimes are blacks killing other blacks in the poorest areas of town. Of course, truths like this are not "PC", so the leftmedia propagandists again indulge themselves in the lie of ommission. Like I said, as usual.

Ft. Meyers is in Florida, DtE, about an hour south of where I'm at. My brother in law used to be fire chief in neighboring Cape Coral, and has been quite informative about what is really happening here.

If you have a CCW, you have no problem, either with carrying or utilizing, as the situation demands.

[cinFLA]

It appears he is targeting "high crime profiles" such as moving forces to the 11pm to 8am window. Give him a little break but watch closely.

[ArrogantBustard]

“Anything to stop the killing,”

Anything? Really? If Miss Woods were serious, she'd get some training in the care and feeding of the pistol and carry one with her at all times; consider it an article of clothing. Since Florida is a shall-issue State, there's nothing preventing her doing that. Ten to one she doesn't, though.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Pledge"? I thought they have a requirement for gun safes? jeez. To think that some people can't seem to follow a simple rule so a bunch of innocents get killed. Just what has become of our criminal element these days?? ...sigh...

[FreeTally]

BUMP!

I think all those who dont live here need to stop commenting because you dont know what you are talking about. A Chief in Ft. Myers make a resonable comment about stopping murders by criminals with guns which they shouldn't have, and you would have thought McBride had just won and had announced he was going to try to ban guns in Florida by the reactions.

Good grief folks.

[Travis McGee]

No kidding!

[Travis McGee]

Exactly. It's PC to blame the inanimate object, and not a failed culture.

[Woahhs]

So you don't feel you have a right to carry a weapon to defend yourself without the government's permission?

First, let me say I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you are young and asking a legitimate question, as well as a newbie. Were that not the case, I would have to conclude your reply was the most inept attempt to bait I've ever received on FreeRepublic.

Also, while it may seem a minor point to some, I do not make any decision about my choice to keep and bear arms predicated on how I "feel," but on what I think.

In the case of carrying a concealed weapon, my conscious, deliberated, choice is to show a "decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind" by fulfilling the conditions outlined by the state of Florida to certify to my fellow Floridians that I do not constitute a hazard to them when armed.

Florida is a "shall-issue" state, and the only conditions they ask in issuance of a permit is proof of NRA instruction on safety, a picture for the permit to show I'm the owner of said permit, fingerprint card and background check to show I'm not a convicted felon, and a small administrative fee. What they do not ask is what weapon I intend to carry, or even if that weapon is in fact, a gun.

These conditions are not unreasonable at face value, and I accept them as the price for inclusion in a civilized society. If those conditions are to be used for a more nefarious purpose, then the point becomes what I will do with the weapon I carry, doesn't it?

"Permission" from the government has nothing to do with this matter. I didn't ask permission to get married either, but that doesn't mean I neglected to register that choice with the state.