In recent months, Detroit’s police chief has come out in staunch support of that city’s residents defending themselves against criminal attack.
If more citizens were armed, criminals would think twice about attacking them, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Thursday.
Urban police chiefs are typically in favor of gun control or reluctant to discuss the issue, but Craig on Thursday was candid about how he’s changed his mind.
“When we look at the good community members who have concealed weapons permits, the likelihood they’ll shoot is based on a lack of confidence in this Police Department,” Craig said at a press conference at police headquarters, adding that he thinks more Detroit citizens feel safer, thanks in part to a 7 percent drop in violent crime in 2013.
Craig said he started believing that legal gun owners can deter crime when he became police chief in Portland, Maine, in 2009.
“Coming from California (Craig was on the Los Angeles police force for 28 years), where it takes an act of Congress to get a concealed weapon permit, I got to Maine, where they give out lots of CCWs (carrying concealed weapon permits), and I had a stack of CCW permits I was denying; that was my orientation.
“I changed my orientation real quick. Maine is one of the safest places in America. Clearly, suspects knew that good Americans were armed.”
Not everyone agrees with Chief Craig.
The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality has unmasked their true allegiance, and it isn’t to the law-abiding residents of Detroit.
Homeowners using deadly force against intruders: Has it gone too far?
Detroit (WJBK) – In recent months more Detroit homeowners have taken matters into their own hands, shooting suspected intruders on-site and, in some cases, killing them.
For example, three cases of homeowners shooting suspected intruders have been reported in the past five weeks.
In early March, a 17-year-old was fatally shot outside a home on Penrod Street. On March 25, a homeowner with a valid concealed weapons license fatally shot two suspected intruders at his home on Dexter. Earlier this week a homeowner shot two suspected intruders, killing a 15-year-old.
In those cases, the homeowners are not facing charges.
Ron Scott of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality believes in self defense but says these “vigilantees” (sic) have gone too far.
“Certainly people have a right to defend themselves in their home but they do not have a right to make it a free-fire zone, and the chief, or his spokesperson, should never put that in the minds of people. We must operate not on the basis of fear but on the basis of udnerstanding (sic) and how we as a community can come together to stop the violence,” he says.
Just what is a “suspected” intruder? If the person was shot after breaking into a home, then he was an INTRUDER, period.
If the homeowners were not legally justified in pulling the trigger, they would be up on charges.
If they’re not up on charges, it wasn’t a “free fire” zone – it was a justifiable use of force.
Most home invasions (break ins) come late at night, or very early in the morning. If these criminals don`t want to get shot, don`t break into peoples property. The police can`t be everywhere when crime is committed. That is why homeowners are now armed. It is plain and simple, you want to chance your luck, it is your life!!
the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality should have “their mwembers ” start an intervention for these persons. Have these lost persons held until police arrive to take to one of their members to live with them and their family.
I do want this people to think it is a free fire zone if they break into someone’s home. If they do not want to be in a free fire zone, stay out.
Just HOW do you spell vigilanty?