Where are you located, Kathy? Crime is up almost everywhere; it's absolutely terrible. It's the drug abuse epidemic

At one time shooting were rair in my city now it pretty much happens daily. But only in certain areas and usually turf/drug related. Crime in general like break ins, robberies, hold ups, etc are spreading like fungus in the city and out into the suburbs. That is one of the reasons why we moved from two and a half miles from the city limit to 14 miles away 5 years ago. Of course the city's mayor is a moron and sissy he is more concerned with adding more bike lanes and "be kind zone" signs in the city than the real issues.

"be kind zone" signs....that made me LOL! Guessing California.

Here most of the shootings are either family or acquaintance shootings. Will not help you if you are caught in crossfire but they are seldom random unless the person has mental problems.

Whatsayyou, it sounds like something California would do, but this is in Pennsylvania.

What kills me is that there could be a dozen of neighbors on the street at the time of a shooting, but nobody seen anything and dead men don't talk . But those same people complain about how the police have to do something about the violence in the neighborhood.

""be kind zone" signs....that made me LOL! Guessing California."

I'm a native Californian and nearly a lifelong resident (the exceptions being military service and later several years living abroad) and I'm going to guess that's not a good guess. It doesn't sound at all like something typical of around here, it's much too lame.

I too live in a gun violent state, Colorado. My neighbors opened fire on one another...AK47, 3 shots fired. The gun jammed, he was trying to reload when police arrived. The shooter spent one night in jail, got 3 years probation...one for each shot fired.....the charge was attempted murder. This happened about 20 years ago. There's nothing to keep it from happening again.

You said "you can remember when it wasn't so".....not me. ....you didn't hear about my neighbors shooting....no deaths...not national news.

I should mention...the town was Manitou Springs, population 20 years ago was 5300....a small town.

If you feel unsafe....me too....

This is in Lexington KY. About a week ago, there was an armed robbery in my daughter's old apartment complex, which is gated. Although, the gate seemed to malfunction half the time I visited her and was wide open.

Kath, I am glad your daughter wasn't harmed.

These days we get nothing but warning signs, and I actually wish, we could have signs of be nice to each other instead. But I know, there are to many people that wouldn't get it.

Gated communities give out a false sense of security... as anyone living within, or visiting within can cause havoc there as well.

I wish, we could go back to less violence.

On another note, I just got home from visiting all over, including Kentucky, and without any incidences. If I count Oklahoma as well as Missouri only one time each (been there twice) I was in 15 states.

Moni

When police can respond and end a mass shooting in a minute (Gilroy, CA), more armed, trained security of some sort (in this case police) isn't the answer. It didn't help. It could've been a lot worse, but it is already very horrible.

Whatsayou....what an annoying comment. California has some of the strongest gun laws in the country. Be nice, whatsayou.

Thank you, Elmer.

Crime is up almost everywhere;

In fact crime in most places has plunged precipitously. New York City's murder rate is back down to what it was in the 1950s, and while there are of course local exceptions, overall the US is much safer in that regard than it has been in decades:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/03/5-facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/

https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/crime-rates-america

Moni, I didn't know you were coming through Kentucky. Did you come near the central part of the state?

As far as crime being less, maybe so, but I don't recall so many shootings in Lexington when I first moved here. I took my son to a fast food sushi place yesterday that is right next to a place where a teenage girl was shot and killed. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, in the parking lot of a burger joint. This is across the street from where my daughter now lives. She lives in a UK campus community so is relatively safe, but no where is really safe, is it?

In my nearby big-small city, we had 5 deaths over the weekend from OD on vaping. There were 2 shooting incidents also.

Its a strange weather and crime relationship in Milwaukee. Overly warm weather brings out the worst in our humanity: Temperatures of 80 to 90F seems the worst. Violent crime and car theft tends to shut down as the temperature goes to 100F and beyond. Apparently, it's too hot to do anything.

I'm a native Californian, too. And, I stand by my comment.

I live in Louisville, and there are daily shootings here, but they are nearly all in either the West End or the South End. So far, they're not shooting up Oxmoor or the Mall in St Matthews!

Gun violence has always been around. I was unpacking some of my parent's things that were wrapped in newspaper. I found an article in an Los Angeles newspaper about how a twelve year old girl shot her father in the face because he wouldn't let her go out. This was in the 1940s.

People tend to fear and internalize events that happen near to them. Gilroy was a rural town and still is in many ways. Guns would be/are common in rancher's homes and people didn't go around committing violent acts with them and children managed to keep their hands off them and avoid shooting themselves or their siblings. But this tragic event is going to leave a lasting impression for so many.

Most gun violence in California is gang on gang. In some parts of bigger cities innocent people and children are caught in the crossfire. Those we hear about. The gang shooting don't even make the front page. Often the death is couched in terms avoiding the fact that the victim was involved in gang activity. It helps promote the anti gun agenda that guns are horrible and random people are getting shot.

Respect for firearms used to be taught in the schools. High schools had rifle clubs. Police would visit and discuss gun safety with younger children. Disagreements were settled with fists not weapons.

Today we have zero tolerance for fighting, even with words. There is no safety valve to relieve the pressure. Add that to gun violence in video games as opposed as gun safety at the range and you have this mess we are all a part of.

I am one of those die hard no gun kind of people, but watchmelol's points make a lot of sense to me. I remember a boy in my son's K class who was pathologized for drawing something vaguely violent. The child had zero issues around hitting or any kind of anti social behavior. He drew a picture with a person wounded from a fight or some such and you would have thought he was a mass murderer in the making. I also remember how ridiculous I felt about not allowing any gun play for my children, yet those shooty things on the Star Wars Legos were absolutely fine.

I agree w/ Elmer on this issue.

Since this isn't Hot Topics I won't link to it here, but there's a superb piece by Alexandra Petri today in the WaPo on this issue. It's titled "Why are these acceptable sacrifices?"

Kids in gangs. The parents have a tough job keeping their kids safe from shootings at school and meeting up with gang members. I would home school kids if I could. They would interact with other home schooled kids.

Elmer, if you're so unhappy with the laws in this country, maybe you should move? Like to Venezuela? https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2019/05/01/msnbc-admits-because-venezuelans-were-disarmed-they-have-no-power-against-the-government-n2545639

^^^ Is that really your position? If someone has a different position then yours about the USA, then leave? I wonder where you learned that? Church?

Haha, great comment, finallyhome.

I find myself unexpectedly in a country I don't recognize. Too many people who think they are patriots but who are really a great risk to the continuation of our democracy. Such a profusion of unthinking droids who can do little more than blindly believe and repeat the garbage propaganda they hear on Fox News and from the White House. They're brainwashed. It's why I said I don't think our laws will ever be fixed.

It's discouraging to hear nonsense like this and more than a little sad.

drewsmaga, have you wondered why democratically elected leaders of other countries in the world have kept their distance from Trump? The only people who will meet with him is other dictators (as he aspires to be himself with trying to ignore the rule of law). Putin of Russia, Kim of N. Korea, and the guy from China. The others all think he's a clown and want nothing to do with him and most have said so publicly.

Boris Johnson, the new PM of the UK, and a problem package himself, was described by Trump as "Good man. He’s tough and he’s smart. ". What Johnson said about Trump not too long ago was " I think he's betraying a quite stupefying ignorance that makes him, frankly, unfit to hold the office of president of the United States, " This is a widely held opinion of him abroad and yes, it matters.

Very well said, Elmer. trump's winning stragegy is to play to the hearts and souls of racists. The more he condems people of color, women and immigrants the more they cheer him on.

Rob333 My town does active shooter drills using volunteers to play parts in massive shootings. The whole police force is involved and the fire dept too. We are very involved like so many towns in confronting the reality of a large threat to our country.. I love our town and our police and firemen.