[eyc234]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Great post!

It does (in an indirect way) point out a very definite problem regarding crime in The Villages and its increase--and let's not kid ourselves, it WILL increase. Villagers are by and large very law-abiding folks, but those apartment buildings we see springing up like mushrooms are not built to house Villagers but to house the people who work in and for The Villages: younger folks, from a variety of life backgrounds, and many with children of their own. Such a demographic will, by its very nature, have more crime than a bunch of a group of 150,000 older folks and retirees.

We're very lucky here in TV with the level and quality of law enforcement that we have: things that get routinely reported here as crimes, and followed up on by law enforcement, would probably be met with a loud guffaw if reported as crimes in the areas that many of us hail from. We see story after story after story in The Online Paper That Shall Not Be Named, of law enforcement chasing down and apprehending thieves who have taken what in many (most?) other states would be considered paltry sums; shoplifters who have taken maybe $100 worth of merchandise for example. Many stories of people being stopped for minor traffic infractions such as stopping at a stop sign with the front of their car over the thick white line, vehicle windows with too heavy a tint, improper turns, things like that, which are often followed by a K-9 being called which "alerts" to the possibility of drugs, which are then found in the vehicle. The cops obviously know who the troublemakers are and do an excellent job of keeping the pressure on them. But all too often such police work is negated by a criminal justice system that slaps the miscreants on the wrist (if even that) and sends them on their way. The rap sheets of some of these characters fill pages! In other words, such crime carries very little risk, and even if caught the penalty is really nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The question is, will policing TV and surrounding areas continue to be adequate in dealing with an influx of crime that is sure to come? I hope so. But if not, will things escalate to a point where law-abiding folks will take matters into their own hands and "beat the ****"" out of miscreants who have obviously not had it beaten out of them during previous times and misadventures?

Let's hope not.

Wow then I must be a criminal since I lived in apartments a lot throughout my life, along with many of my life long friends. It is no wonder older people get a bad name you loose all realities of life. No different than listening to that Devil Music Steppenwolf effected my life, living in an apartment and section eight housing did not make my wife nor I bad, criminal or anything else other than open our eyes about people.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

This is a tough situation. I hate to see anyone die unnecessarily but when a crook breaks into an occupied house/car they just let me know they value their life less than what they are after. If this happens to me I hope I have the wherewithal and time to assess the situation to gage whether they are violent before I start shooting. It could be a fairly innocent act, someone lost or out of their mind.

Nice to know there are some sane people around here willing to try to assess the situation. Too many around here are trigger happy. I had a sheriff tell me that you could not shoot unless you felt your life was in danger. Breaking into your car is not a threat to your life.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

What about states that don't have a "state permit class"?

Many states hve gone to "Constitutional Carry" and no longer offer a class...

That said, I do believe anyone who carries should take the NRA Concealed Carry Class. But there are better classes out there for self defense training...

I wish there were some sort of enticement that would convince people to get training and practice. Here and Tennessee, where our other home is, have recently adopted 'constitutional carry' and its pretty concerning.

Some folks just aren't ready to own/carry and that's a risk to us all. A few months after my dad passed away my mom called in a panic, she had just found his revolver and shot her bread making machine trying to unload it. There's still a divot in the kitchen counter where the bullet hit before ricocheting into the bread maker. I'm afraid the bread maker did not survive.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by mraines

Breaking into your car is not a threat to your life.

thank you

unless you're in the car, then it could go very wrong

[dougjb]

Most guns that are in a house wind up being used on the homeowner!

Why is this?

If its a confrontation with an intruder, a fumbling homeowner might miss or otherwise poorly handle the gun. In that case, the gun is simply taken by the intruder (who may not have otherwise had a weapon) and perhaps used on the homeowner.

But, statistically, guns in a household are used on a homeowner or the spouse either in a domestic argument situation or for suicide. The numbers are startling. Very few homeowners with guys ever use them on an intruder. A huge percentage is used on the homeowner or spouse...many times in a drunken rage or despondency.

Moreover, many homeowners with guns find that their guns are used by their children or grandchildren who find them and play with them. The number one cause of death for an infant is not fever, contagion, SIDS or any other health reason. The number one killer of infants is death by the discharge of a gun.

I have a neighbor who is very conversant with the use of guns. He practices, he knows about guns, he practices good guy safety (meaning his bullets are not in the same location as his gun). But, he readliy admits, in the case of an intruder, he would have to take some time to arm the weapon for use (discharge or threat) to the intruder.

Please use some good sense before you arm your household...for the benefit or your spouse, your neighbor, your children or grandchildren. The loss of some property is simply not worth the risk.

For those of you who think the law is on your side. Perhaps....but do you really want to get caught up in the system...which may or may not find you guilty of a crime and if not a crime perhaps liable for damages. Its fine to cite the statute. But, how much is it going to cost you to prove you were right?

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by eyc234

Wow then I must be a criminal since I lived in apartments a lot throughout my life, along with many of my life long friends. It is no wonder older people get a bad name you loose all realities of life. No different than listening to that Devil Music Steppenwolf effected my life, living in an apartment and section eight housing did not make my wife nor I bad, criminal or anything else other than open our eyes about people.

I think the point was that statically people in lower income situations are more likely to participate in blue collar crime (theft, drugs, home invasion etc.), obviously there are crooks of every income and status.

Your experience of having lived in apartments and section 8 housing would be great input to this group rather than us relying on statistics. Would you say, on average, people in those low income houses are more, less or about the same to participate in crime than those in more affluent housing?

[MrFlorida]

This seems has turned into a debate about firearms. When someone breaks into your home in the middle of the night, they are not there to have a beer or socialize with you.... It takes a lot of moxy to enter a home with the owners inside....

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

I wish there were some sort of enticement that would convince people to get training and practice. Here and Tennessee, where our other home is, have recently adopted 'constitutional carry' and its pretty concerning.

Some folks just aren't ready to own/carry and that's a risk to us all. A few months after my dad passed away my mom called in a panic, she had just found his revolver and shot her bread making machine trying to unload it. There's still a divot in the kitchen counter where the bullet hit before ricocheting into the bread maker. I'm afraid the bread maker did not survive.

Thank you for indirectly supporting my premise in my post #117.

TV is an active retirement community. Translation; a lot of people with a lot of time on their hands. Do your family...and your neighbors a solid and take a class, go to the range. There is no excuse.

Btw..Sorry for your (bread maker) loss Leroy!

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by dougjb

Moreover, many homeowners with guns find that their guns are used by their children or grandchildren who find them and play with them. The number one cause of death for an infant is not fever, contagion, SIDS or any other health reason. The number one killer of infants is death by the discharge of a gun.

I'm curious where you got this piece of information. I've been searching and reading since your post and I can't find any evidence to confirm it. I do see where unintentional injuries is the top cause of death in infants and children, as you dig into what that means I don't see firearms mentioned anywhere. The info isn't very recent but the CDC and NIH say pretty much the same thing.

Unintentional Injuries
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 9. In 1999, they accounted for 36 percent of deaths in the 1 to 4 age group and 42 percent of deaths in the 5 to 9 age group.

Among children aged 1 to 4, motor vehicle occupant injury is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, followed by drowning, fire and burns, airway obstruction injuries (choking and suffocation), and motor vehicle pedestrian injuries. Among children aged 5 to 9, motor vehicle occupant injury is again the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, followed by drowning, fire and burns, airway obstruction injuries, and other transportation fatalities (NCHS, 2001b). Failure to wear seat belts is an important factor in motor vehicle deaths. Nearly 6 out of 10 children under the age of 15 killed in a motor vehicle crash in 2000 were not restrained by a seat belt or child safety seat (NHTSA, 2000).

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

What about states that don't have a "state permit class"?

Many states hve gone to "Constitutional Carry" and no longer offer a class...

That said, I do believe anyone who carries should take the NRA Concealed Carry Class. But there are better classes out there for self defense training...

Florida does. I live here.

Carrying firearms in public has already been deemed a state rights issue, so I have no control or interest in how other states manage firearms carry and regulation. I have no plans for living in any other state at this time. However, if and when I do, I will make it a point to learn their laws before I'd carry in public.

The point about the the NRA is a good one. Many people have been so conditioned by media that just the word "NRA" strikes fear. In actuality the NRA does offer a lot of educational opportunities and has for decades. We had firearms training in high school (optional class--just about everybody took it). Additionally the NRA offers the "Eddie Eagle" program, which is the only program I can think of that actually trains young children (preschool and elementary) just what do do if they find a gun. Far better that, than fear of the educator.

[Two Bills]

Posters etc. keep referring to the wee hours.
My wee hours are about 1am, 3am, and 5-6am.
Being more specific would help.
Thank you.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Posters etc. keep referring to the wee hours.
My wee hours are about 1am, 3am, and 5-6am.
Being more specific would help.
Thank you.

My wee wee hour is 3am.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Posters etc. keep referring to the wee hours.
My wee hours are about 1am, 3am, and 5-6am.
Being more specific would help.
Thank you.

Lol. And more frequently than that as we age, if my own experience is any indication.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Posters etc. keep referring to the wee hours.
My wee hours are about 1am, 3am, and 5-6am.
Being more specific would help.
Thank you.

yep, at least every other hour from midnight on

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

We had firearms training in high school (optional class--just about everybody took it).

Can you imagine if someone even suggested this today, heads would spin till they fell off.