Posts Tagged guns
Safety and Crime Prevention tips from Midtown
Good info to share with your neighborhoods.
#1 Please share this important recommendation with your neighbors who may not have email.
Col. Billy Garrett, Union Station precinct commander, has asked residents of the various Mid-town neighborhoods to not hire “wandering workers” to help with yard work or related chores around your home.
With spring approaching, Col. Garrett reports that this very common practice presents the potential for far more negative results than positive.
While the worker may be sincere and trustworthy, it is impossible for any of us to determine this on the spot.
Unfortunately, there are those who are using this tactic to get to know you and your home better – thus identifying an opportunity to come back and steal from you or your neighbors.
Be alert and protect your family and your home.
Common tactics that are used and that you should just say no to are:
- Quotes names of neighbors who they have worked for in the past.
- Asks to borrow a tool (rake, etc.) or trash bags because a neighbor has hired them but they need to provide their own tools.
- Wanders the neighborhood – You’ve seen this person around the neighborhood for years, so you assume they must be ok. However, none of your neighbors has referred them to you or mentioned that they have worked for them.
- Has a child with them and asks to do work in exchange for food.
- Looks like they are raking leaves at a neighbor’s – who happens to not be home for you to verify that they actually hired the worker. They ask if can they come help you as they are now finished with what the neighbor asked them to do.
Tips to keep our neighborhood safe:
- Say no to anyone who wanders by even if they reference various neighbors by name.
- Ask your neighbors for references of legitimate business people should you need help with repairs or yard work.
#2 Col. Billy Garrett of the Union Station police precinct has sent us the following information about last night’s shooting. Police are looking for a gold four-door Camry. The gunman asked for directions of the victim but did not demand anything. Police are actively working this case and believe the victim to be in non-critical condition at this time. We are grateful to hear that the victim is expected to recover. UPDATE: I have been advised by a neighbor that Mr. Clarke has undergone surgery and is in critical condition. From Commercial Appeal: “Percy Clarke, 49, was in the 2000 block of Cowden when he was approached by a man in a gold Camry at about 8:15 p.m. The man asked for directions, then started firing, hitting Clarke in the head, chest and shoulder.”
Most importantly Col. Garrett’s advice to everyone across the city–not just in Midtown is this: “Please encourage our residents to walk with others and avoid walking alone. We have had a lot of violent incidents city-wide recently.”
Please pass this message to your friends across the city. Violent crime is happening in all zip codes.
Tougher Gun-Crime Laws proposed for TN
In the past couple of weeks, both the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission approved a resolution supporting the Operation: Safe Community strategy to toughen gun-crime laws. Councilmen Kemp Conrad and Harold Collins sponsored the resolution before the City Council and County Commission Chair Deidre Malone and Commissioner Mike Carpenter sponsored the resolution that passed the County Commission.
Councilman Conrad will be approaching the legislative bodies in the major cities in Tennessee to also pass resolutions supporting tougher gun-crime laws to emphasize that crime is a statewide problem.
To keep you updated on the bills supporting Operation: Safe Community, we have included the current action for each of the nine bills.
For a complete list of bills currently before the General Assembly, Senate and House floor session schedules or to view videos of the Legislative Days during Tennessee’s 106th General Assembly visit www.legislature.state.tn.us/.
Strategy 3: Toughen state gun-crime laws led by State Rep. John DeBerry and State Sen. Mark Norris.
SB 0929 by Sen. P. Stanley (HB 1194 by Rep. B. Rich)
AKA “Street Terrorism Bill”
Provides sentencing enhancements for certain crimes of force or violence if committed collectively by three or more individuals.
Those crimes include, second degree murder, attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery, robbery and carjacking.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, ref. to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Criminal Practice and Procedure of JUD
SB 0928 by Sen. P. Stanley (HB 1195 by Rep. B. Rich)
AKA “Crooks with Guns Bill”
Adds additional offenses to the definition “dangerous felony” for which there are enhanced sentences for employing or possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Those felonies include second degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson and burglary.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, ref. to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Criminal Practice and Procedure of JUD
SB 0925 by Sen. P. Stanley (HB 0612 by Rep. DeBerry J.)
AKA “Bill Enhancing Penalty for Aggravated Robbery”
Enhances the penalty for committing an aggravated robbery with a firearm or explosive device by increasing it from a class B to a class A felony.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, ref. to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Criminal Practice and Procedure of JUD
HB 2192 by Rep. DeBerry (SB 1996 by Sen. Norris)
AKA “Fiscal Review Committee”
“Operating costs,” for purposes of fiscal notes for bills resulting in net increase in periods of state incarceration, include deductions for reductions in recidivism and cost savings to community.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, ref. to S. S&L Government Committee
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Budget of FW&M
Strategy 4: Reduce the caseload per prosecutor in the D.A.’s office for more effective prosecution led by State Sen. Jim Kyle and County Commissioner Mike Carpenter.
SB 0838 by Sen. R. McNally (HB 1402 by Rep. C. Fitzhugh)
AKA “DA Staffing Bill”
This legislation, as amended, would create additional assistant district attorney general positions statewide by October 1, 2009.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, ref. to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Criminal Practice and Procedure of JUD
Strategy 7: Establish a comprehensive school safety initiative led by Superintendent Kriner Cash.
SB 0723 by Sen. R. Tate (HB 1645 by Rep. Jones U)
AKA “MCS Police Force”
Permits MCS to establish and operate a police force for the school system.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, referred to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Bill introduced. Passed 1st consideration
HB 1647 by Rep. Jones U (SB 0719 by Sen. R. Tate)
AKA “Mandatory Alternative Schools”
Establishes a pilot program of mandatory attendance in an alternative school within the Memphis City Schools.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, referred to S. Education Committee
HB Current Action: Action deferred in subcommittee K-12 of Education to 4/1/2009
Strategy 12: Implement coordinated problem properties strategy led by Director Earnest Dobbins.
HB 1847 by Rep. Miller L (SB 1830 by Sen. J. Kyle)
AKA “Neighborhood Preservation Act”
Addresses the issue of vacant, neglected and abandoned properties that are a source of blight in Memphis and Shelby County.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, referred to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Placed on subcommittee calendar for State Government of S&LG for 3/25/2009
Strategy 14: Establish a coordinated domestic violence initiative led by County Commissioner Deidre Malone and Councilman Reid Hedgepeth.
SB 0086 by Sen. P. Stanley (HB 0317 by Rep. DeBerry J)
Prohibits a medical facility from holding the victim of domestic abuse responsible for the payment of a forensic medical examination and provides for compensation of such exam by the criminal injures compensation fund.
SB Current Action: Passed 2nd consideration, referred to S. Judicial Committee
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Criminal Practice and Procedure of JUD
Special Note: The Public Safety Coalition, of which MPD Director Larry Godwin, District Attorney Bill Gibbons and Sheriff Mark Luttrell are members, is also supporting the following bill:
HB 2193 by Rep. DeBerry J (SB 2115 by Sen. M. Norris)
AKA “Bill Enhancing Penalties for Repeat Aggravated Burglary Offenders”
All aggravated burglaries a defendant commits within a 24-hour period count as separate prior convictions for purposes of determining if the defendant is a multiple, persistent, or career offender under the criminal sentencing reform act.
SB Current Action: Placed on State Judicial Committee calendar for 03/25/2009
HB Current Action: Assigned to subcommittee – Criminal Practice and Procedure of JUD