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Firefighters respond to the site of a fire where one person was shot to death and a Metro Police officer was wounded in the arm in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009.
Published Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 | 12:56 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 | 6:22 p.m.
Bryan Hanasz
Metro news conference
Shots fired
One person was shot to death and a Metro Police officer was wounded in the arm Wednesday afternoon as firefighters responding to a fire came under a hail of gunfire. Investigators said late Wednesday the fire was intentionally set.
Firefighters were dispatched about 12:30 p.m. to 1230 Comstock Drive near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Washington Avenue, said Tim Szymanski, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Fire Department. Firefighters were escorted by armed Metro officers as two SWAT teams guarded their efforts to fight the three-alarm fire.
As two engines with four firefighters, each from Station 3 near Rancho Drive and Washington Avenue, pulled up to the house, a fire captain saw heavy flames and smoke pouring from the left rear corner of the 2,500-square-foot, single-story home, Szymanski said.
A man wielding a long gun then ran around the right side of the house and fired at the engine, Szymanski said, blowing out the rear window where two firefighters sat. The Clark County Coroner's Office on Thursday identified the man who was shot on Comstock as 36-year-old Bryan Hanasz of Las Vegas. He died of several gunshot wounds, a coroner's spokeswoman said.
Over the emergency radio, dispatchers heard: "We're being shot at!" The second engine also had its rear window blown out and was hit in the right front, Szymanski said.
Both engines pulled away and ordered all other units to pull back.
Metro Police, Clark County School Police, motorcycle officers and detectives all swarmed the area, Szymanski said.
"It was an unbelievable response," Szymanski said.
Metro spokeswoman Officer Barbara Morgan said Hanasz died at the scene. Sheriff Doug Gillespie said a Metro Police sergeant was struck in his back and arm, but described the injuries as minor. The sergeant was taken to University Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
No other police officers, detectives or firefighters were injured during the fire or the shooting, Gillespie said. In addition to the Metro sergeant hit by gunfire, four marked police vehicles were also struck.
"I think this afternoon is an example of the dangers public servants face every day," Gillespie said.
Las Vegas fire investigators Wednesday evening determined the fire started in a bedroom and it was arson, Szymanski said.
Hamasz has an extensive criminal history with Metro Police, said Officer Bill Cassell, a spokesman for the police department. Hanasz served time in prison in 1993 after pleading guilty to robbery, court records show. Two kidnapping charges against Hanasz of victims over the age of 65 were dropped.
Hanasz, 19 years old at the time, and Andrew Gordon, then 20, were arrested by Metro Police officers when a SWAT team stormed the same house that burned on Wednesday.
A man and woman, both in their 60s, were bound and gagged early on the morning of Jan. 25, 1993, by Hanasz and Gordon, who had targeted them after seeing a classified advertisement in which the couple was selling guns.
In addition to his guilty plea for robbery, since 1993 Hamasz has been involved in criminal activities that involved narcotics, driving violations, obstructing a police officer, battery on a police officer and robbery, Cassell said.
Neighbors told fire investigators on Wednesday that a woman lives alone in the house, but was at work at the time of the fire, which did an estimated $200,000 in damage, Szymanski said. The woman saw the fire on TV and later arrived at the scene. Relatives came to care for her, he said.
Although Hanasz is the homeowner's son, he did not live at the house.
Las Vegas Fire Department arson investigators are still trying to find the cause the fire, Cassell said.
Three pet cats were rescued from the burning house by Las Vegas Animal Control.
Homicide detectives and police officers closed Washington Avenue near Comstock Drive, Morgan said.
As a precaution, a number of schools in the area were placed on lockdown. They include Booker Elementary, Hoggard Elementary, West Middle School and A-Tech High School, and that was lifted at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Should've just let that part of town burn. If the residents in this area don't want the fire department to respond then let 'em cook!
...Wonder what that was all about, the CCFD was over there to put out a fire and ended up gettin' shot at..hmmm...
Interesting too that with all the "racial diversity"present here in Las Vegas, that 98% of the squaking about race injustices consistently comes from the side of town w/alphabet and presidents identifying the streets...and they worry about F Street being shut down, whereby racially cutting Commerce and tourism off from their side of Las Vegas..seems like drama is a monthly occurrance over that there....Tourists, take note.......
"What are the chances the suspects are white?"
-----------
Slim and none.
The overwhelming majority of residents in every neighborhood want police & fire protection, and MLK-Washington is no exception. Unfortunately, it has its list of problems just like many other neighborhoods, to include the criminally violent. Lots of reasons for that I'm sure, but no excuse for letting innocent people suffer. Good on Metro & the FFs for doing their duty despite the risks, and thankfully the officer will recover.
I wonder what the chances of the suspect being poor are? Probably has more to do with the situation than race. But no one expects the usual crowd of anonymous bigots that post on here to be thoughtful or informed.
north las vegas...shocker, huh?
i love how the politicians try to get the support of stupid people by saying north las vegas is "moving forward".
monday we had the molesting preacher, 2 weeks ago we had the "clinic" selling illegal drugs, now we have a guy shooting at firemen.
they HAVE to do a sweep of that town and clean up the garbage.
I agree with ThisOneGuy. What does race have to do with their proclivity to be violent? It is probably more related to socioeconomic status.
And Stevem, that area of town isn't in NLV. Nor does it need to have a "sweep" whatever kind of weird fascist fantasy that might be. Civil liberties, America, The Constitution..? Remember?
bigb, you are correct: the vast majority of individuals living in that part of town are NOT shooting weapons or attempting to murder anyone. That fact leads me to question all of the racist remarks and fear mongering going on here.
Whether the residents are killing a retarded adult without even a wallet by shooting him in the back at night, or throwing boiling water on another, or murdering firefighters in cold blood, I can't wait to move back to Vegas. What a city. Let's hear it for the Mob Museum.
"Seems like all the violent crime in this town is carried out by either brown or black and that's not racist its just a fact."
Wow, you hit the nail on the head with that one junior. When something SEEMS a certain way then as far as republicans/pseudo-patriots go this is as good as a "fact". That about sums up the majority of right wing arguments: if something seems one way it MUST be that way. Out Standing! Your critical thinking skills are giving your grammar skills a run for their money today.
Poor people don't have access to education and services so eventually(surprise!) some of them act accordingly.
A textbook example of a "justified" killing -- good job Metro.
Perhaps future fire calls will be preceded by police escort?
Your anecdotal observations does not make something a "fact". Sorry.
Seriously, the next time you feel yourself making a (potentially) racist statement stop and think "Hmmm... in this sentence could I replace Black, Brown, etc. with poor?"
It works with "White trash" as well.
So instead of placing knee jerk blame on skin color, maybe we can think about it for a second, and possibly dig a little deeper than the obvious, yet wrong, assumption that race is the key here.
I promise I get sick of hearing about all of this crime just like everyone else. But being fed up, concerned, scared or angry does not excuse ignorance and bigotry.
And congratulations for voting.
The police have to secure the area FIRST before any emergency personnel head into any situation. This is true for most all other states...this is a no brainer.Essentially the police put an entire fire department in harms way....good going guys.
Babyboomer,
Before you open your mouth, at least know some facts.
Police only secure scene for medical and FD when the call is for a violent incident or if they call for assistance. A heart attack, fire, broken leg, etc. will not have a police response.
FD typically asks for a police response to fires only when there is a traffic issue. In this case, there was no traffic issue so they didn't call the cops before the shooting started.
So basically, trying to blame this on the cops is stupid.
washington and mlk might not TECHNICALLY be north las vegas, but it's not summerlin or green valley either.
you can SHOVE your liberal civil liberties. you are the reason child molesters go free.
oneguy: this is all Mister Charlies fault, right?
welcome to the big bad city, LVFD!
KUDOS to CCFD and METRO - Hopefully, a story like this will shut-up the critics that mistakenly think you get paid too much - you earn every dime every day in my book!
And, on behalf of the non-racist Democrats, I'd like to apologize for the stupid, ignorant, prejudiced, bigoted, rude, mean, nasty, (did I mention STOOPUD) racsist remarks by that guy bragging about voting! Unbelievable that the white trash in our society never notice how many of their family, extended family and friends are also getting arrested for THEIR criminal misbehavior - GEEEESHE!
Good job guys! Credit actually belongs to LVFR and METRO :)
Far too many bigots oozing out of the gutter on this thread. Some of them can't even read, as they talk of "murdering firefighters in cold blood." While I missed that murder, I do remember an ice-cream lady being shot to death (read: murdered) by a white cop in Henderson. Same cop was exonerated by the blue wall, and subsequently has been accused of committing statutory rape against a 15 year-old... But nevermind that redneck cops in this valley kill residents with appalling frequency, by shooting them or crashing into them with their cruisers. Or might we trot out that the 16 year-old son of Judge Donald Mosley committed vehicular manslaughter, killing a 15 year-old girl by racing through a red light while driving drunk, and with a restricted license, but got away with it because of who his father is? In fact, last year it came out that Las Vegas was the second most dangerous place to be a pedestrian in this nation, because of the way ALL the idiots of all races drive around here. Violent crime is bad everywhere in this Valley. Not just West Las Vegas.
Now, I'm no apologist for West LV. I'm not pretending that it's not rougher there than the rest of the Vegas. But I live downtown and regularly find myself in West LV. I sent my two children to basketball camp at the Doolittle Gymnasium, this summer. We often use the library and the city pool over in that area. I happen to know far too many decent people who call West LV home, to countenance the crap some of you are posting. SteveM, I often enjoyed reading your posts -what the hell got into you today?
Something like this can happen in any neighborhood be it a black,white,hispanic, or Asian suspect!!!! Having my best friends husband shot at while he is just trying to do his job is insane.... This just goes to show the danger fire and metro have to deal with on a daily basis.. I'm just thankful to god that the boys of lvfd station 3 were safe today and will be in my prayers everyday
I agree let it burn down. If these neighborhoods cant stand up and stop this insanity than why bother. About races, I live in a prodominately white neighborhood, so does that mean that all white people park their cars on their lawn, drink beers in their garages with their shirts off and use the garage as something other than parking their cars? I guess its better than getting shot at.
DTJ These are the same nut jobs that come out on every topic to make it known that hates lives. They hope they never need the civil liberties they fear when used by anyone but themselves.
OneGuy, you are wasting your time trying to talk facts and rationality to the resident republican cretins on the Sun forum.
They are clearly in need of taking a sociology class or two, and learning a little bit about how things actually work in the real world. You are 100% correct, crime has everything to do with socioeconomic status, not race. As if the Whiskey Tangos aren't infesting the Boulder Hwy area with their meth riddled criminal activities.
And no, being poor is not an excuse for such behavior. However, being poor is a tangible reason, if one cared to look into causality of the problem that is. Cause and effect. But don't expect the republican children to understand anything crazy like that. It's much easier to point fingers and hurl racial insults. Gives them warm and fuzzies.
I keep seeing people mention CCFD. Fire station 3 is in the city so it is LVFD picture shows the red fire trucks and not the yellow ones. Either way, It is never good when those of us in public service or even the private ambulance service respond to help someone and get fired upon. A few years back a fire crew responded to a rolled over vehicle and got shot at by the occupant. Growing up here and seeing how this town has changed and become such an angry place to live is disheartening.
what got into me is we have crazy, violent, and criminal people all over this town. MOSTLY...it SEEMS to be east of rancho and north of oakey. again...i know newspapers "report"...they don't "reflect".
i had to work that area day in, day out, while i sold ads for the "other paper" in town and let me tell you...it's a cesspool. the politicians in that area use aliante and centennial hills as some kind of "lipstick on a pig" to cover up the fact they really do nothing to clean up their area.
if the authorities did a simple check to make sure that all the people operating businesses in that area had licenses and were legal citizens and weren't doing back room surgery and selling drugs...it would cut WAY down on the criminal element.
then you get people like our liberal friend that screams "civil liberties" to keep police from catching that molesting pastor.
"Poor people don't have access to education and services so eventually(surprise!) some of them act accordingly."
Poor people have equal access to education and sometimes more access than most, and they definitely have more access to services than anyone else. To suggest that burning down your mother's house is "acting accordingly" for someone who is poor is as ignorant as burning down your mother's house because you're mad at your life.
I'm guessing that if you took all these poor ignorant fools committing these heiness, violent crimes and gave each of them a million dollars, they would still be the same morally bankrupt criminal fools they were when they were poor.
I heard about this story from a relative. I live in Omaha Nebraska and I must say that some of the comments posted are sickening. I thought I lived in a racist state... Maybe I'm being a little sensitive because I knew the gunman, in fact he was at my wedding back in 99. I in no way approve of the gunmans actions, and thank god no one else was killed. However this man lost his life.. Can he rest in peace.
omahanebraska,
He didn't 'lose' his life, he forfeited it. There is a huge difference. If I deliberately throw my keys into the ocean, I can't really say I lost them now, can I?
the politicians in that area use aliante and centennial hills as some kind of "lipstick on a pig" to cover up the fact they really do nothing to clean up their area.
normally stevem, your posts are interesting but 'aliante and centennial hills" are far far far from MLK and washington. but that does'n't mean the same things don't happen in those areas or could happen since there are so many forclosures in both those areas now. forclosurses mean empty houses and that brings in the 'not so law abiding' element.
In the first house I lived in out here, a home 2 doors down was for sale (this was in 06 and was vacant) and the gangbanging teens in the community used it as a "sex drug house". I don't want to get into the racist thing but I will but it was a known fact all those kids were living in section 8 housing in wha was once a nice, quiet safe gated community. the landlord who owned those houses,after prssure from the HOA, evicted all occupants of those houses and after that, things got better. so again, this kind of thing where the police and fire depts are going to be at risk might very well start happening more around the valley in neighborhoods that once were safe and nice. so we all can't point fingers that this MLK washington area is bad. it can happen anywhere these days.
ThisOneGuy - While 'they' might not have access like some/ others they do know right from wrong...
I am by no means a racist but finish this sentence = The bulk of crime committed in LV comes from the ___________ race?
My opinion is that they have lost the sense of pride in their race/ community. I am originally from Philly and while I (white) am the minority there, I am not here in LV... I have seen it a 1,000X in PA especially when they are interviewed on the news - its a shame, no remorse, embarrassment over what happened, no plans to fix the issues/ problems, etc... Obviously this is 'most of the time', not 100% but its still something that 'they' need to fix and get together in order to change their image as displayed here in the comment section...
What does you throwing your keys into the ocean have to do with a person, obviously mentally unstable being shot to death? Maybe you should take a dip in the ocean.. forget about the keys!
DTJ, I suggest you check your facts. You have so many factual errors in your post that it pegged you as a typical angry lib.
I grew up in Vegas and a lot of posters here are being labeled racists for absolutely no reason. Go check out the demagraphics of those areas. Surprise. The idiotic responses by the weak-kneed libs are why these problems continue to exist.
Besides, this is just another West Side Misdemeanor.
omaha,
My point is that he didn't 'lose' his life, he chose how he ended his life. He tried to kill people. He burned a house down. This man was an arsonist, he was an attempted murderer, he was convicted of robbery and served time in prison, and he was charged with 2 counts of kidnapping victims both over 65 years old. There were also 3 cats in the home that he burned to the ground.
This man didn't lose anything but his soul. What a hateful excuse for a human being! No sympathy for criminals.
Getalife,
Please tell me about my "so many factual errors." You failed to demonstrate, or even cite, one error. And as if right on cue, while I'm typing this, the top story on this website is about the woman killed today by a hit-and-run motorist, down on Trop. She becomes the 57th (FIFTY-SEVENTH!) traffic related fatality in Metro's juristiction this year. There is violence and coarseness all over this valley. West LV is just one part of it. Finger pointers like you, Mr./Ms. Getalife, need to look up and down your own street and in your own mirror.
Incidentally, you apparently need a paint-by-numbers coloring book to understand the world around you, because I'm no "typical angry lib." I'm a libertarian/conservative. Try wrapping your mind around THAT! It's just that some of us Republican's aren't Fox News-watching cultists who need easily understood "good guys and bad guys" to feel better about ourselves.
"Besides, this is just another West Side Misdemeanor." Well, maybe I was a little too harsh on Fox News when I lumped them together with you.
omaha,
Do not expect anyone here to feel sorry for your friend. I'm sorry for your loss but God forbid one of our police officers or firefighters was killed because of the actions of your friend, then what? He made the CHOICE to do what he did. There is NO excuse for his actions and as henderson said, he forfeited his life and he gets no sympathy from any of us! I just thank God that all of those policemen and firefighters were able to return home safely to their families after their shift.
DTJ, specifically the Mosely rant. If you fact checked anything else you posted on like you fact checked that.....well. I know the facts of that case and am not defending the miscreant Mosely kid just your handling of the "facts"
I am not finger pointing nor do I require your paint-by-numbers kit because I don't live in a cave like many of the posters here do.
As for Fox News, congratulations, I don't watch it either.
You claim to be a libertarian/conservative, was this a recent conversion? You are angry though.
The phrase "west side misdemeanor" is slang for felony on the west side. Next time I will type slower so you can comprehend things a little better. Like I stated, I grew up here and have had heard that phrase for many years.
Still waiting for you to tell me how I was factually wrong about Mosley's son, Getalife. And then go on to back up your accusation about my "so MANY factual errors."
BTW, that's twice now you've beaten your chest that you "grew up here." Who the hell cares? Why do think that impresses anybody, or otherwise makes your posts any more valid than anyone elses's? Anyone who cheapens the loss of life on the West Side with the wink-wink dismissive slur you use, is a bigoted waste of my time.
DTJ, if I am wasting your precious time, why respond?
I am not beating my chest because I am a native, I am merely pointing out local slang. Sorry if your feelings are hurt by slang, I didn't invent it, I am just sharing.
As for the Mosely incident, look it up yourself, you might be missing some critical brain cells in regards to your recolllections of the incident.
I am amazed at how PC you seem to be for a libertarian/conservative, another liberal outed, I think I am two-for-two.
I am neither a bigot or a racist but thanks for taking the easy way out and throwing those around.
Three strikes and your OUT, Getalife. Speaking of which, I do have one, myself, and I better get back to it.
Till next time, your homework is to walk up and down your block, introduce yourself to your neighbors -of all ethnic stripes. After that, please do study up on the Mosley case. You can start by reading my initial post on this thread.
Gotta run,
Ciao.
DTJ, like a moth to the flame.
I still am confused at you labeling me a racist or a bigot. Get out from in front of a mirror and move on.
Getalife,
I'll admit it, I just can't just let you get away with this. So I'll continue...
You lied about my statements regarding the Mosley case. If that were all, I could afford to let it ride. But you have also exposed yourself poster boy for racism in this country. That, I cannot, and will not, walk away from. Ignorant racism cannot be tolerated and deserves to be confronted everywhere, everytime. To answer your desperate question, this is "why (I) respond."
Let's go at this point by point. To begin with, there's nothing facile about calling you a bigot. I did so because you are. To wit, this is what you had to say about West Las Vegas:
"Go check out the demagraphics of those areas. Surprise." Demographics? That was a CLEAR reference to the predominant ethnicity of residents of West L.V.
Then there was your summary dismissal of the entire episode with the slur, "Besides, this is just another West Side Misdemeanor." You were NOT "merely pointing out local slang." That was your concluding comment. To subsequently try and spin it the way you have, is an unadulterated lie.
You are the one who started this dialogue by falsely accusing me, personally, of being wrong with the facts. Getalife, not only is it you who is wrong with the facts, but you are part and parcel of the greater curse of racism the rest of us must deal with, in this great country.
My apologies to other readers who don't enjoy seeing online squabbles. But sometimes you just have to stand up to bigots and make them STOP.
(And now I really gotta run. Have fallen too far behind with work...)
ppl are always so worried about a certain neighborhood being a problem, maybe this is the reason why Nevada let Garrido go after only serving 11 years of a 50 year sentence. Ignorant ppl only see race, are scared of a certain area or people instead of seeing evil. At my job the my coworkers,bosses are always talking about certain other parts of town they would never work in, when workers from those parts of town come to my district they are always pleasant and friendly, I guess it takes an event like 9/11 for americans to temporarily feel united, otherwise we go into subgroups. American, then republican vs democrat, then east coast vs west coast, then american born vs foreign born, black vs white. I guess it takes a catastrophe for ignorant people to be united.
racists use any negative story to prove their point, so worried about race while so many children are kidnapped and raped and killed by ppl that share their skin color.
True people with a right wing tend to want isues to be simple like its this race or that race....its beaucse they are "not as good as me" "your either with us or against us". they like Crusades and Wars.... simple reasons to complex problems... becuase thinking is to hard and its just easy to wipe a whole commuity out than try to fix it becuase fixxing things is too much work....and really we dont care enough......not till they kids ends up in a drug house.. or comes out of the closet...or they become poor do they change there minds........
i dont know how long it will be but a civil war is comming becuase the divisons are too deep ...the good news is most on the right although armed.... would have a hard time missing a meal...
...Been here for alot of years and its amazing to me at how at one time "Thisoneguy"'s and others like this person's opinion was an absolute exception to the general rule here in Las Vegas and now, with all these "ACLU" types living here, the closer and closer we become to being marched straight into the ground
To all you accusing everybody with an opinion that is different than yours a racist. I guess it's OK to call a white person trailer trash or some other epithet but as soon as you cross the color or ethnic line you're a racist.
Our diversity, yet commonality, use to make this a great Nation. Now that the PC police have taken over everybody's a racist or a bigot. Nice.
I will remember that next time I lend a helping hand. People like DTJ can help his "fellow" man but I am a racist so I guess I can only help those "like" people.
It will turn to have been a domestic dispute, and the arsonist didn't want any interference with from the fire department until his work was done.
racists always try to cover up their ignorance
"that part of town should be burned down,
bet none of the perpetrators is white "
are all racists statements, racists always try to change the subject with --just because our opinions don't agree you try to label us as racists, it must be nice to go through life with blinders,
note: are any of the commentors that stated others are accusing them of being a racist not white? I already know the answer funny when the crime involves whites no one brings up race, when it involves nonwhites that is the first comments I read bring up "that part of town or burn it down"
I guess that is why they let Garrido out he was the right skin color, we know whites never commit crimes, Vegas was founded by who? criminals
Them streets are on the west side of town i use to live 2 blocks away i am white, and there are alot of white people over there sleeping in tents by the burnt down moulin rouge and h street that commit just as many crimes
And if the suspect is white...then what will your complaint be? And what does that have to do with any of this anyway? Because he was shot? Setting your house on fire and shooting at ANYONE is pretty much a guarantee your gonna be on the losing end of that battle.
I am saddened by the offhand dismissal of a loss of life. Regardless of the situation, the best thing we can report is there was only one life lost, and that loss represents a failure on all our parts. There is education available for all, it is true; however there is an amazing lack of compassion and understanfing available, The poor need to be a part of society too, not just a part of a demographic.
I am only a step away from homeless myself, as are most of us in all honesty. Thus I can understanf the frustration that comes from lack of employment. The result? Loss of self-esteem, dissatisfaction with your lot in life, and a beginning of a change in direction. Depending upon those who make themselves available to make a difference, the change can be positive or negative. I was fortunate to have an understanding family to turn to when my life was coming apart, and I can sympathize with others who did not meet the same good fortune. But I am not granting a blanket excuse for wrong choices, simply adding my views on possible causes. The saddest thing I note here is that many of us resort to labeling things that we see as in need of fixing instead of lending a hand to effect the repair. If we are all recists, let us bond and support the one clear choice, the Human Race, Let's join it and start being human to each other now.
ThisOneGuy, I have to agree with you. The judgemental bigotry in these postings is disturbing.
How do some of you panty waist liberals make it through the day? It must take a lot of sisterly bonding to keep up your passion.
Race has everything to do with it. You can't "whitewash" years of criminal activities in the ethnic communities.
It is almost funny to watch the pseudo-patriots and bigots attempt to deny their own racism and act indignant at the allegation that they might be bigots.
At least own your political opinions - cowards. It is almost embarrassing to watch all of the back peddling and sputtering going on here when someone calls you on your bigotry.
Call me a "liberal" (gasp!) all you want, I'll own it, no problem. All of this right wing bravado and machismo on display and you can't even be honest about your own opinions when they are painfully obvious to everyone else.
And David1961:
I am sure that there USED to be a lot more racists around here at some point. Great observation: at some point African Americans could not legally use the same washrooms as White people either, and there were reactionary racists back then who thought that was morally defensible, and if you go back even further slavery was actually legal and(presumably) we all know how that ended up. It's called progress; a lot of people, at some point, give up their racist fears and figure out we are all just human beings, simply people. Those narrow minded folks that are unable or unwilling to figure that one out become cranky old people and die alone and afraid of the world around them.
afveteran
What is an "ethnic community" exactly? Is that like an Irish, or Italian area? Are you talking about all of the "years of crime" here in the local Ethiopian or Korean communities?
There was years and years of crime in White communities we've "whitewashed" all of that, why not give everyone that fair shake?
And why do you say race has everything to do with it? Does the thought that socioeconomic status has everything to do with it not make as much or more sense?
interesting that i hear the word racisit alot in this..the simple fact of the matter is different races are raised differently..mike vicks plea was its a cultural thing. Just look at the sports headlines..millionaires..shooting killing drugging all more from one race than another..ya plenty of white trash to go around and poverty dosnt cut it as an excuse..why isnt it racist when the "white man" gets blamed for social crisis..its time to understand. different races have different ways...and bad judgement not poverty ,are a better excuse...
I happen to be an independent for the little thumb sucker that asked, That's how I roll. Reps and dems are all the same! You can throw around the words like racist and bigot all you want but if you stick to the facts and not your pillow bitting logic you would see that this once great nation is being systematically destroyed
"I agree let it burn down. If these neighborhoods cant stand up and stop this insanity than why bother. About races, I live in a prodominately white neighborhood, so does that mean that all white people park their cars on their lawn, drink beers in their garages with their shirts off and use the garage as something other than parking their cars? I guess its better than getting shot at."
___________________________________________________________________________
This is exactly why you shouldn't generalize!!! Simply judging by your punctuation and spelling errors, that's exactly what I think...Hillbilly!! I think we ALL know that there is good and bad in ALL races. Unfortunately, with my race (black), there is more than normal, I won't excuse or deny it. However, as I mentioned previously, don't generalize, it only makes you sound ignorant, stupid and yes...racist!!!
fire fighters vs postal workers. hmmm, I like the postal workers better. (fire the fire fighter bums and put their jobs up for bid. Save millions of taxpayer dollars.
The case for Postal - Style Healthcare
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/flowchart/20...
Just because someone calls themselves an "independent" doesn't mean that they are not a racist, sorry. The proof of that is in posts that are filled with mean spirited, incorrect stereotypes. The Pseudo-Patriots are so independent and yet, they are still afraid of people who don't look like they do, or talk like they do, when all along they are simply very afraid of their own racism. Fitting.
Those opinions are not new, there has been a fear of strangers for a long, long time. This country has dealt with these issues before; those self-centered, anti-social arguments are historically speaking, as tedious as they are false.
Boy, this thread has legs! Well, good. The race issue should be met head on, not swept under the carpet.
ThisOneGuy, you've fought the good fight, today. Though I might quibble with your emphasis on socio-economic causes (not that I deny their existence, but, though Getalife doesn't believe me, I really do have a strong libertarian streak and believe that individual responsibility is the only way out for everybody, at the end of the day), everything else you've posted has been valiant in the face of the barbarians. You've struck a blow for decency.
Getalife,
"I will remember that next time I lend a helping hand. People like DTJ can help his 'fellow' man but I am a racist so I guess I can only help those 'like' people."
I never said that, nor do I doubt that you do lend others a helping hand. We all have good and bad tendencies in us. I jumped on you today; someday you can get me back. But I don't know you and don't presume to know all that is in your heart. Maybe you'll be the one who stops to help me some late night when my car is broken down on the side of the rode. Or maybe it'll be me that stops for you.
We're all in this together, and that's what we have to keep reminding ourselves.
DTJ
Thanks for that. You have a good positive attitude, something we could all stand a little more of.
a little bird shot, in South Chicago we used to fight fires with AK rounds and 00 BS coming at us.
We need more programs for ex-offenders
DTj - If were all in this 'together' then we ALL need to start carrying our wait TOGETHER wouldn't you think... If you can truly say you are 'helping' others in need then good, no matter what that need is... good. If not, then you are most likely contributing to the problem...
VegasGM85,
I have no idea what you are trying to say, except for the goofball part where you try and say I am "contributing to the problem."
You make no sense... except maybe to some creature on Pluto.
Social scientists have all but for a few liberal mindsets in their community, agreed that socioeconomic circumstances in the ethnic communities have nothing to do with criminal activities in those communities. It's racial, face it, and move on.
Afvet
If crime "has everything to do with race" as you contend, and science supports that assertion, then I guess that means that segregation, slavery and genocide are viable policy options once again? Or did I miss something here?
Obviously, "Thisoneguy" has a theory which sounds tryed and true which seems to swim against the current of all the tryed and true that has been tryed and demonstrated for the past couple hundred years by several "freedom fighters ,its not like your the first freedom fighter to come along to speak up for the "poor and oppressed", explain why your theory works and all others have failed....
BTW.... I'm sure when Metro and CCFD and the Ambulance sign on to their shift each evening,(especially the ones over 8-9 years senority,"Thisoneguy") their shift is pretty much routine as far as what neighborhoods they are gonna visit, what kind of people they are gonna "interact" with,though its a nice thought that some of this stuff needs to be made "rocket science" yu know what, to the rest of us that lead normal lives and live outta the "hoods or Varios ", whites, blacks and all in between..it ain't....
David1961,
There's not much in your posts which I can address, because you can't write (or spell) in intelligible English. But I think I did make sense out of your gibberish about "what neighborhoods (ambulance drivers) are gonna visit."
What jungle did you just walk out of? The blaring siren is the official song of Las Vegas. You see ambulances racing around EVERYWHERE in this valley. Same with police cruisers. As for West LV, I just went through there yet again today, on my way to the Walmart on Lake Mead, just east of Rancho. This is the closest Walmart to West LV, and the one that serves that neighborhood. The clientele is overwhelmingly African-American. So is the staff. Everybody is very friendly. There was a jazz saxophonist walking the isles, playing some nice riffs. People actually park their cars within the white lines, out in the parking lot. The shopping experience there in the "hood Walmart" is better then any other, throughout the valley. I've already spoken of some of the other things I do with my family in West LV. Those of you slurring the area provide zero facts, zero information, and know nothing about the people or that part of town.
afveteran,
"...criminal activities... It's racial"
Drop the "af" from your ID. You are a bigoted disgrace and a humiliation to the good men and women who serve, and have served, in the United States Air Force.
Keep clicking your heels,Theres no place but home,theres no place but home
DTj - I dont know any other way to say it so you'll understand...
Its funny how this dialogue has turned into "blame it on race" or "it's the poor" who commits crime?
Do you honestly believe it's just the dark skin that commits crime in the west part of Vegas?
If you pay attention, it's all over Vegas and its just not about dark skin who commits these crimes.
Give this man a break, who happened to find away to end his life. His mother is white, and she doesn't deserve this bunch of "hogwash" nonsense coming from most of you, who judges people by the color of their skin, or the area they may live. This man, has made his mistakes, whatever reason that made him to decide to do the unthinkable, is between him and God. And I pray that his mother, gets through this. No parent/parents, should ever have to burry their own child and or have their child/children be ridiculed by those who thinks they're "holler than thou!"
I have a question, have any of you, who passed judgement onto others, ever did anything remotely stupid in your life, or have you ever made any mistakes? If you haven't, think long and hard, because none of you are as innocent as you portray yourself to be!
Growing up, I have witness so many people of different race, who has done the unthinkable, there are those who has come from very wealthy families, down to lower class income families. Why do people do the unthinkable? You haven't walked in their shoes, or perhaps you have, but you were lucky enough to find your way back on the right path in your life?
Just because you may think, that if no one else "thinks" like you or "acts" like you, that there must be something terribly wrong with them? Grow the hell up!
People need to take responsibility for their own action and stop labeling people by their race and the part of area where they may live!
None of you are perfect and that's another thing that is so sad about the world we live in today, the hatred continues, so "SHAME" on you!