Well, you and your law-abiding neighbors either live with the situation and the possible escalation as a result...or you do something to try to change the situation, in my opinion.

And you and your law-abiding neighbors have a voice...as well as the freedom to use that voice.

Perhaps you can find a good outlet for that voice so it can be heard?

Did you ever consider writing to 60 Minutes...because they might be willing to do a follow-up episode on this story?

(I don't watch 60 Minutes too much...so I'm certain I didn't see the story.)

(((HUGZ))) Thanks PC.

Like I said, my neighbors don't want to get involved in this now. Either cause they are too old or have young families themselves, and they're scared IF they try to say anything, they'll become targets.

And simply, I can't do it myself unless everyone else is willing to put their own necks on the line. I'm headstrong and willing to risk myself...But I can understand why they would feel otherwise and respect that.

As it it, we've complained to the land lord who's rented those places to these people. We can file anonymously to Social Services and hope that they follow up on reports and take action...But unless everyone (or at least a majority) of those in the neighborhood are willing to get together and voice their concerns as a group? And reading the mood of my neighbors last night and today, I don't see that happening too soon.

As to 60 minutes? ROTFLMAOL!!! Everyone actually tried that when the story hit national news...But 60 minutes decided to go with News Democrat because that drove their viewership up. I'm sure they'd be more then happy to cover the murders in the city, but doubt they'd change their stance on the police department's involvement one iota.

Well then, Alicorn, it sounds like you need to start convincing your mom that she should move or you would all have to live with the situation...her included...because you won't leave her there all alone.

And it might help to influence her if she realizes the neighborhood she remembers no longer exists.

Surely it's the same location, but that might be all that it is today.

I think I could speak for the rest of us here on this website by saying that we will be thinking of you and your family...and worrying too.

Thanks Baloney. We're going to need all the prayers we can get. Not half an hour after posting here, we heard more gun shots behind us...Within a couple of minutes, sirens and cops all over the place again (not including the ones already working the scene from last night). Seems there was another shooting in the city part behind our neighborhood, wounded but otherwise ok...Officers said it was related to last night's incident but not much more information was available.

So I've been arguing with my mother about needing to get her out of here, along with hubby's been ringing the phone off the hook and trying to get off the boat cause he doesn't want us here alone.

A few of the residents are saying their calling the real estate offices tomorrow to put their homes up for sale, renters are looking for new homes, and my neighbor's daughter's have been arguing with him about moving out as well.

Doesn't help, that they've got the road into here blocked off making sure anyone entering belongs here in the first place.

To say at the moment I'm stunned about the events would be an understatement.

I agree with all of you. This gang violence and the guns have gotten way out of control. Personally; TristanRobin; I also do not agree with taking away the guns. However, I think more stringent regulation needs to be enacted to help with this problem. For instance, is there any reason you can think of why somebody under the age of 18 would be legally in possession of a firearm? I can't. The parents must be held responsible for their children. Automatic weapons and armor-piercing bullets? There is no plausible reason for the general public to even have access to such items. Why is this so hard for politicians to accept? Now, I do not own a gun, but I have a lot of friends who hunt. That is fine; there is no law against hunting.
I may be digressing social politics here; but all of us need to be held responsible for our children and their actions if we are parents. As far as the gang problem goes; I can forsee one legal problem that will have to be clarified beforehand: What constitutes a "gang"? I've yet to see or hear oanyone who could definitively answer this question. Believe me; lawyers are plenty who would love to take on a discrimination lawsuit because their client was accused or charged with a gang-related crime.
I don't even have the time to start talking about the social problems that lead to this behavior. I will just say that we need to start being better and more responsible parents (this is not directed towards anyone in particular) to guide our children. As far as the laws go, we need to push our elected politicians to start living up to these promises they make at election time. I would definitely like to hear from all of you as to what problems you think can be solved and how.

First of all; Baloney; the program you referred to was called "Scared Straight", I believe. I thought it was a good thing myself to help divert kids before it was too late. Some social professors (or whatever) in my area wrote reports about how traumatizing the experience was to the kids originally sent through the program; and now its not done anymore here. Too bad; I truly believe that people learn better from experience than lectures or books.

When will you Americans ever learn about the cancer of your gun culture?

OMG, "the racecard" has backfired on the liberals, how can that be..

Maybe these kids are in gangs,because they can't get the protection they need from the parents,or just maybe they(gangs) know just how weak y'all are,but hell what can you do,yea that right "run away"...Sounds to me that y"all need to grow up and take your city back, but i guess running is easy...but the best part is now you know how the illegals are, sure i know"their not all illegals" but it only takes a few...

Nothing wrong with our gun culture there Gary, it's just all those liberal ideas coming back to bite them in the ass..Racecard is stopping the police,now i just love that..