Another mall shooting at a mall I've shopped at many times.

[Lee]

Not a good area any more for sure, but still...I'm sick of this crap.  The Gangsta's basically ruined any downtown shopping in Columbus Ohio, then they started shooting each other in the outlying malls.  And now at my "vacation mall".   I also used to call on stores at this mall when I was in Sales. 
The words of an old racist former co-worker of mine, come to mind every once in awhile.  I won't repeat them in their entirety, but they had something to do with a 4th Reich, and a class/group of non-jewish people who'd become intolerable to live with.  It disgusted me then, and still does, but I wonder sometimes if it might come to that eventually.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/24/justice/florida-mall-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[dogmush]

Violent gangs like this exist in our communities because we allow them to.  We pretend that only the police have a responsibility to enforce safe living conditions and turn a blind eye to predators and thugs living among us.  Much like governments, we get the neighborhoods we deserve.

I'm not going to go so far as to say we should leave the bodies of gangbangers hanging at the city gates for a warning, but tacit approval, either from fear of gangs or distrust of the justice system is allowing this kind of behavior.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

yes to both of you

[Tallpine]

I'm not going to go so far as to say we should leave the bodies of gangbangers hanging at the city gates for a warning

Yeah, there are no city gates anymore 


Just read an article about "knockout kings" - bands of young people beating up a lone victim just for the hell of it.

Can't imagine why anyone would need to carry a gun ...   

[Perd Hapley]

Can't imagine why anyone would need to carry a gun ...   

Because you're a racist and want to shoot black people, silly. Why else?

[Jamisjockey]

Yeah, there are no city gates anymore 


Just read an article about "knockout kings" - bands of young people beating up a lone victim just for the hell of it.

Can't imagine why anyone would need to carry a gun ...   

Happily, I just found JHP's that seem to function nicely in my 1911.  Will be carrying her more often now.... :)

[vaskidmark]

The headline says an "assault rifle" was used in the shooting, but the body of the article says that men with "high-powered rifles" pulled up and started shooting.  I would like to know which style of weapon I should be cowering in fear of.

The article says over 100 casings were found, and that besides the guy being shot at there were hits on the wall.  The article also says that the mall was "crowded" at the time of the shooting.  But there is no report of innocent bystanders being injured.

Deductive reasoning and my Sherlock Holmes junior detective kit lead me to thus conclude either a) the shooters were careful to aim so that no innocent bystanders were injured, or b) that the only bystanders in the vicinity were guilty ones who may or may not have been injured.  I'm going to go out on a limb and pick option "b" this time.

stay safe.

[Lee]

The shooting was outside the mall.  I'm assuming the shots hit an external concrete/brick wall....probably away from the main entrance  The area is shaky enough that people don't typically "hang out" around the mall or parking lot - just dash in and out.  And unless the economy has changed things, security was always very present there, even on a slow summer day. ...usually to the point of being obnoxious.  It was Mall Ninja paradise from what I remember.

[Lee]

http://www.news-press.com/article/20111223/CRIME/111223007/North-Fort-Myers-faces-drug-charges?odyssey=mod|mostview

Jeez ...another article from their local news.  I can imagine the math tests, " how many bullets do it take to keel people at the mall who don't pay fo they cocaine?"

[never_retreat]

[lee n. field]

Yeah, there are no city gates anymore 

Our city built a "visitor's center" on the highway east of town, just before the bypass turnoff.  There's a steady stream of Chicago traffic past there, on their way to their vacation villas.

That would be an excellent place.

[Jamie B]

Lee, the link that you had was for Edison Mall in Florida.

Columbus, OH is Easton mall.

[Boomhauer]

I'm not going to go so far as to say we should leave the bodies of gangbangers hanging at the city gates for a warning

You might not go so far as to say that, but I will. Sounds like a most excellent idea to me.

In lieu of city gates and hanging, heads on pikes along the entrance roadways (and in front of city buildings, bus stops, etc) would do nicely. You could even do heads in an amusing order, like Burma Shave signs.

[Jamie B]

You might not go so far as to say that, but I will. Sounds like a most excellent idea to me.

In lieu of city gates and hanging, heads on pikes along the entrance roadways (and in front of city buildings, bus stops, etc) would do nicely. You could even do heads in an amusing order, like Burma Shave signs.

I always liked that visual for a deterrent....

[MicroBalrog]

You might not go so far as to say that, but I will. Sounds like a most excellent idea to me.

In lieu of city gates and hanging, heads on pikes along the entrance roadways (and in front of city buildings, bus stops, etc) would do nicely. You could even do heads in an amusing order, like Burma Shave signs.

Wouldn't there be hygiene issues?

[Monkeyleg]

Wouldn't there be hygiene issues?

Not if you brush their teeth before you put the heads up.

[Lee]

Lee, the link that you had was for Edison Mall in Florida.

Columbus, OH is Easton mall.

From my OP: The Gangsta's basically ruined any downtown shopping in Columbus Ohio, then they started shooting each other in the outlying malls.  And now at my "vacation mall". 

From Columbus to Ft. Meyers...and probably many points in between.

[Jamie B]

From my OP: The Gangsta's basically ruined any downtown shopping in Columbus Ohio, then they started shooting each other in the outlying malls.  And now at my "vacation mall". 

From Columbus to Ft. Meyers...and probably many points in between.

Ah, sorry - 'tis true.

[lee n. field]

Wouldn't there be hygiene issues?

Like Mr. Heinlein had it (Time Enough For Love, "The tale of the twins who weren't"), after a month or so, or when the flies get too thick, replace the heads with a plastic model.  On a pike, outside the place of business they tried to rob.

[MicroBalrog]

Like Mr. Heinlein had it (Time Enough For Love, "The tale of the twins who weren't"),

I must re-read that, it seems.

[seeker_two]

Wouldn't there be hygiene issues?

A hard, clear varnish would probably help with that....