L.A. Police Chief Laments 'Too Many Guns'

O

Oatka

New member
No, you idiot, too many criminals!
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20000609/ts/crime_chief_dc_8.html

L.A. Police Chief Laments 'Too Many Guns'

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Police Chief Bernard Parks, whose 20-year-old granddaughter was shot to death 12 days ago outside a fast-food restaurant, said in a TV interview to be broadcast Sunday that there are ``too many guns, too much violence'' on America's streets.

Stepping into the nation's highly divisive and politicized battle over gun control, Parks told CNN's ``Both Sides With Jesse Jackson'' that the death of his granddaughter, Lori Gonzalez, demonstrated the need for tighter restrictions on firearms.

``I think it shows clearly what kind of society we're living in where there's too many guns, there is too much violence,'' Parks said.

The chief said at a press conference on Thursday that an 18-year-old gang member, Samuel Shabazz, was arrested for the murder of Gonzalez as she drove away from a Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits restaurant in the city's Jefferson Park neighborhood.

Shabazz was allegedly gunning for Gonzalez' passenger, a childhood friend and member of a rival gang, who ducked when the shots were fired. Gonzalez, a college student with two jobs who was in town only for the weekend, was struck and killed.

Parks said in the interview conducted by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson that his granddaughter's death vividly demonstrated the harm brought by easy availability of firearms.

``It's a serious issue of having access to guns, the amount of damage it does to the community,'' he said. ``And I think it also reflects that even the family of police officers do not live in any kind of secure environment.''

Parks, responding to a question by Jackson about how to specifically change gun laws, said: ``We would get rid of assault weapons. There would not be an assault weapon in the United States, whether it's for a show or someone having it in a collection. There's no purpose of assault weapons other than in the military.''

He also called for strong laws limiting access to guns by criminals and those with a history of psychological problems and enhancing sentences for the use of a firearm in crime.

Copyright © 2000 Reuters Limited.
 
Living in SO. CA. this has become local news so we see it every night . I do have a question . This guy that was in the car and was the alleged almost victim was a known gang member . #1 Why was a gang member in the car with the Chiefs grand daughter ? #2 When people are together in a vehicle the media uses "companion" , here they are using the term "passenger". Why ?
I think I know and it goes back to the Whitney Houston story . She was interviewed and the story seemed to indicate that she was doing more than a little bit of drugs . Which reporter was barred from backstage at the Awards Show ? The one that wrote the story . Same with the media in this case . Better say good or lose certain interview access . The burning question has not been asked . What the hell was she doing with these people in the first place ? Those angelic pictures of her that we see are not a person "hangin'" with gang bangin' homies . Which reporter or network will do an in depth story on what she was doing there and with these people ? Is anyone willing to jeopardize their cozy relationship with the L.A.P.D. to get to the bottom of this mystery ? Enquiring minds ..........etc.

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TOM
SASS AMERICAN LEGION NRA
 
I'm sure that 18 year old gang member obeyed all laws in procuring and using that gun, and that more laws would have kept him from doing it.
NOT!
 
I am sorry about the Chief's loss but why was his grandaughter associating with a known gang member. I have a childhood friend who is in the Penitentiary for sleeping with his Stepdaughter and I can assure you we won't be chummy when he gets out.

Seems' to me the Chief needs to drink some ginseng tea, come to his senses and get mad at the gang-bangers instead of the guns.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."

[This message has been edited by Will Beararms (edited June 09, 2000).]
 
My empathy for the man is gone.

I agree with paratrooper. Easier to blame the guns, than to question why she was with a gangster.

Regards from AZ
 
This post may ban me forever on this forum. But I have to say it. Not only from personnel experience but from just reading the NAACP in general. Gun laws were started to keep the Negro person from owning guns. It developed into what we know today. And, more and more Negro's take the position of limiting guns, which was introduced by Whites to keep the Negro's from owning guns. I can't respect a "minority" that keeps on calling for more gun control when most of gun control was directed at them as a people. I will use Websters version of a word that is now incorrect: Nigger: A stupid person. Does not matter on race... and now I say it.. those niggers, most happen to be black... are destroying our nation due to revenge.. revenge of things that never happened to them. Hell, if you wish to be in a Utopia.. move back to Africa.. or Europe, or where ever you think this false land exist. Sorry for the rant... there are many great, real AMERICAN blacks out there.. same as Whites.. Asian, etc.. The NAACP hates this but I will repeat it... DON'T TREAD ON ME! USP45usp
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>... and now I say it.. those niggers, most happen to be black... are destroying our nation due to revenge.. revenge of things that never happened to them. Hell, if you wish to be in a Utopia.. move back to Africa.. or Europe, or where ever you think this false land exist. [/quote]

Hmmm. Not much to say here except to point out to lurkers that this point of view is not a majority opinion here on TFL.

I don't think the referenced post makes any credible argument, and I don't see how it flows from the story that prompted it. I think it shows "us" in a bad light: we've got all sorts of "minorities" here on this board -- black, white, jewish, moslem, homosexual, heterosexual, republican, libertarian -- and we accept them all. We even accept unrepentent liberals here if they're interested in discussion. :D

I don't think that stereotyping is appropriate here. IMHO you're welcome to make fun of the ignorant people for their willingness to remain stupid. But this sort of stuff is uncalled for.

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I stand before Almighty God and I'll say what I have said for years. I will never again soil my responsibility as a voter by voting again for a candidate who turns their back on the fundamental principle of justice by which this nation's freedom lives or dies. --Alan Keyes, 2/2/2000
 
My father always told me, "When you lie with dogs you come-up with flees".

Now, death is not a good outcome, but if this involved a gang problem, then I suggest that parents that actually raise children reduces membership in gangs. Kids look for the family that they never had. Let's pass a law requiring parents to love and spend time with their kids. Let's put a selfish lock on all parents, so they don't emotionally lock out their kids. Better yet, lets outlaw pregnancy for unfit parents. Maybe gonad locks would be in order.

Ohh ouu..hold on.. gotta scratch
Damn Flees!
 
Aren't LA firearm ownership and concealed carry laws tough (ie - unconstitional) already?

And how has the police administration fared under Police Chief Bernard Parks?
Not too many excessive force or corruption scandals, I hope?

I feel sorry for Ms Gonzalez. If what I read about her is true, she had the potential to be a good citizen and deserved her chance rather than an abrupt death. However, we are often judged by the company we keep.

I've read about the children of police who willingly commited a variety of crimes, including homicide and knew one officers' daughter whose life had become a mire of parasitic boyfriends, an out of wedlock pregnancy and constant drug usage. She and her son are away from here now and from what I hear, are doing pretty well.

Sure, strong loving (critical words, I think) families can deter children from going wrong, though there still will be a number of individuals who fall by the wayside despite these advantages.
Jeff


[This message has been edited by Jffal (edited June 10, 2000).]
 
I for one am tired of being demonized as a gun owner because certain communities cannot controll their children and are willing to accept gang behavior.

Geoff Ross

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One reason to vote in the next Presidential election.

It's the Supreme Court, Stupid!
 
I do apologize for my recent post. I didn't mean to stereotype or flame any race or minority/majority of peoples. I was just expressing how stupid people, of which I called by Webster's version of the mentioned word, start using whatever type of advantage that they may perceive to have to continue their assult against "us", another minority, to further their goals. As for the lurkers out there, one of the greatest things about this board is the ability to state an opinion, even a bad one. I've always enjoyed reading each post, commenting on some, and hearing (reading) other opinions, even if they disagree with mine. To stand corrected, which I have been, and to also learn how others make up the shooting community. To have learned how many people, of many races, genders, as well as preferences can come together as a family to discuss what we each can do in our real world community / groups to try to teach the "stupid people", as I call them, about our hobby, right to life, and our sworn duty to American to keep it safe from it's enemies, internally and externally. Again, my apologizes.

USP45usp

Now, back to the topic. I feel for these folks, they have lost a loved one. But instead of blaming the object used for this murder, they should be blaming the criminal, who is a gang member. They should also be aware that as their gun laws get stricter that gangs and criminals are now targeting "elitist" type groups such as the Police Chiefs family (even through the target was another gang member, the murderer did not care (if he knew) that the other person was one of the Chiefs family). As for the association with a gang member, a former LEO from LA that I work with said, "you can't throw a stone in LA without hitting at least five gang members".
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>``We would get rid of assault weapons. There would not be an assault weapon in the United States, whether it's for a show or someone having it in a collection. There's no purpose of assault weapons other than in the military.''[/quote]

This from the head of the department that introduced the M-16 and M-9 (military "assault weapons") into domestic law enforcement? Is he planning to send his own department's automatic, semi-automatic and high-capacity weapons to the crusher?

As a side note, is this the same chief that obtained a special concealed carry permit because he couldn't pass the police firearms qualification?


[This message has been edited by RepublicThunderbolt (edited June 10, 2000).]
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Oatka:

Parks, responding to a question by Jackson about how to specifically change gun laws, said: ``We would get rid of assault weapons. There would not be an assault weapon in the United States, whether it's for a show or someone having it in a collection. There's no purpose of assault weapons other than in the military.''

[/quote]
OK, considering that AWs are rarely ever used in crime, how does he figure that will make a significant difference? This kind of thinking is dangerous.
 
A few comments
1) I guess that, while there are too many guns, the number of gang bangers willing to beat, mug and kill people is just fine.
2)bullseye - you said " this type of thinking is dangerous - what made you believe thought was involved.


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Rob
From the Committee to Use Proffesional Politicians as Lab Animals
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She doesn't have bad dreams because she's made of plastic...
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bad Kiki! No karaoke in the house!
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You will be assimilated. Resistance is E/I

[This message has been edited by crobrun (edited June 11, 2000).]
 
Like Geoff I am sick and tired of guilt by association. Why doesn't that so-called Police Chief understand that the motive force is the murderous intent of the gang-banger?
Is our society becoming swamped with idiots?
 
The article doesn't reference an "assault weapon" at all. Of course, we all know the term is a misnomer, but wouldn't the press have seized on that if an AK47 was used? I have to thus assume that it was a handgun, and ask: what does banning "assault weapons" have to do with anything? Or is the term now being loosely applied to any semiauto, either handgun or rifle?

Dick
 
Yeah Bam Bam, we are bogged down in a quagmire of stupidity these days... :(

One question I have is, who is this "We" he's talking about when he says "We would get rid of assault weapons." I get really tired of a handful of politicians, from a couple of liberal states, legislating things that effect the whole country!

One more thought, that has been repeatedly expressed here on this forum, (which noone else seems to realize): There already ARE plenty of laws to keep criminals and psychologically unstable people from getting guns!!!!

Does he think this kid bought his gun thru legal channels? DUH!



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"At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Gun-Grabbers, at last we shall have revenge at The TFL End of Summer Meet on August 12 & 13, 2000..."

...sigh...So many guns, so little money...
 
The man is exploiting the death of his OWN family member to further his own political career and agenda. Unbelievable. I don't know this guy, but he is below pondscum. Oh, and we DO need the "assault weapons" for what happens next right after they try to ban them...; )
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RepublicThunderbolt:

As a side note, is this the same chief that obtained a special concealed carry permit because he couldn't pass the police firearms qualification?

[This message has been edited by RepublicThunderbolt (edited June 10, 2000).][/quote]

You're thinking of Chief Parks predecessor, Willie Williams. Williams had to get a concealed weapons permit because he could not or would not take and pass the state certification examination for police officers who received their initial training out of state. Williams was a deputy chief in Philadelphia, PA.

Incidentally, California law requires that for someone to be a chief of police or sheriff they must have been a certified peace officer in the previous five years or pass the POST exam.

Apparently the Los Angeles city council didn't care when they hired Williams and no one at the state Department of Justice called them to task on this one.
 
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