shooting in a small town

[grover99]

I live in a very small town (1000 or so) with little crime. So little that last month they did away with the police force. The sheriff covers the town now. Well last night there was a shooting with the victim laying in front of some apartments. I have been here 10 years and this is the first time that has happened. I would not say that the closing of the police department has anything to do with it but it points out that you must look out for your own. Police can be as much as 20 or 30 minutes away. I carry all the time now because I in times pass would only carry when I went into Kansas city. Just points out that there is no totally safe place.

[ronnie gore]

it does not matter where you are located as criminals
now are very mobile.i carry every day even at home, when you need a gun you need it fast.

[Targets Guy]

You have to take care on No. 1. One of the first things I learned upon joining the Cub Scouts is be prepared.

[Muss Muggins]

I've been in lots of places in the heart of several big cities that are much, much safer than a two or three block area in more than one small town here in flyover country . . .

[DavidWJ]

Folks around here are becoming more aware of criminals. They're starting to look out for each other, but still don't understand they have to be able to protect themselves and not depend on the Sheriff. Many of them have excaped the cities and still think it strange to have a Sheriff instead of city police.

[okiegtrider]

Once again reminding us all that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

I've been in lots of places in the heart of several big cities that are much, much safer than a two or three block area in more than one small town here in flyover country . . .

Originally Posted by ronnie gore

it does not matter where you are located as criminals
now are very mobile.

People in small towns have this absurd notion, somehow, that their neighbors could never be criminals and general a-holes.

[Dvan34]

I've been retired for 27 years after carrying on duty for 35. 62 years. Lately it has been a consideration to continue carrying after all this time. A decision that I make each time. Is it worth the effort when I will probably never have to use it? The hassle, that accompanies using it? But it is like having a fire extinguisher in the home or a jack in the trunk of your car. We just never know. This is not to say that I do not train consistently. These are increasingly dangerous times in our nation. Add to that the pardon and release of thousands of prisoners at a time when the economy and unemployment is bad.

[Concerned Citizen]

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

I've been in lots of places in the heart of several big cities that are much, much safer than a two or three block area in more than one small town here in flyover country . . .

I hear you, but I wouldn't want to be in any large city if something big is going down just for the simple fact of population density. When you have masses of people behaving badly, bad things happen.

[TinMon]

PLEASE trust me, this comment is no diss against the OP! I want it to be a wakeup call for folks. I wonder if the victim felt that it could never happen in his small town.

So many people live their day to day lives blind to the fact that your/their safety is never guaranteed anywhere. Now add in home grown and foreign terrorism to the mix and your chances have exponentially increased.

So I say to those who rarely carry 100% of the time - at and/or away from the home - start now. If not for your own safety, at least take responsibility for those you love and do it.

Oh yeah, and TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN...

[Arik]

Anywhere you have more than one person you'll eventually have some sort of crime.

This past July my town had its first murder in 27 years. It happens.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[grover99]

On a follow up to my original post it turns out that the individual who was shot was one of four individuals who broke in to an apartment in an home invasion and one of them was shot by the resident which goes to show you you should always have a firearm in close proximity if not on yourself at all times. The sheriff stated that the resident will not be charged

[Breakaway500]

I live in a small town as well and carry most of the time.Having dogs,I know the threat of an offensive 4 legged animal is just as possible as a 2 legged. I have shot many a varmint off the seat of a tractor. A gun is a defensive tool to me..and I feel as naked without it as I do driving a car without a seat belt. (belts have saved me more times than I care to remember) I don't advertise I carry and few people would ever know. That's the way I like it.

[grover99]

Originally Posted by Breakaway500

I live in a small town as well and carry most of the time.Having dogs,I know the threat of an offensive 4 legged animal is just as possible as a 2 legged. I have shot many a varmint off the seat of a tractor. A gun is a defensive tool to me..and I feel as naked without it as I do driving a car without a seat belt. (belts have saved me more times than I care to remember) I don't advertise I carry and few people would ever know. That's the way I like it.

This is very true about dogs. I was bit by a pit bull a few years ago and when I am outside and see a dog running loose my hand goes down ready to draw if the dog comes my way. Plus in a small town you have more dogs running loose. My friend across the street kept chickens and had problems with stray dogs getting them.

[okiegtrider]

Originally Posted by grover99

On a follow up to my original post it turns out that the individual who was shot was one of four individuals who broke in to an apartment in an home invasion and one of them was shot by the resident which goes to show you you should always have a firearm in close proximity if not on yourself at all times. The sheriff stated that the resident will not be charged

Of course most of us here like a good armed citizen story. Any links to news items about this one?

[bigwheelzip]

In 1989, I had coffee with a resident of remote McCarthy AK, who told of playing cards with a neighbor one day. When the neighbor left, he walked through town and shot everyone he saw. Killed six of the 22 residents.

6 KILLED IN ALASKA IN SHOOTING SPREE - NYTimes.com

[okiegtrider]

Originally Posted by bigwheelzip

In 1989, I had coffee with a resident of remote McCarthy AK, who told of playing cards with a neighbor one day. When the neighbor left, he walked through town and shot everyone he saw. Killed six of the 22 residents.

6 KILLED IN ALASKA IN SHOOTING SPREE - NYTimes.com

Not exactly what I think of when I think armed citizen stories and OMG!

[grover99]

Originally Posted by okiegtrider

Of course most of us here like a good armed citizen story. Any links to news items about this one?

Pettis County Sheriff’s investigators arrested three suspects early Sunday in connection with a home invasion and shooting at an apartment Saturday night in La Monte, where a fourth suspect was shot by the apartment’s resident.

The Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a charge of burglary in the first degree against Piaget Deitas, 22, of 400 South Walnut Street in La Monte; Joyter Meseky, 22, of 1017 S Merriam Street in Sedalia; and Alexander T. Alexander, 23, of 720 West Broadway Boulevard in Sedalia. They were were booked into in the Pettis County Jail on a $25,000 bond. All three are expected to be arraigned in Pettis County Associate Circuit Court Monday.

Charges against the fourth suspect, 18-year-old Allen Deitas of Knob Noster, are pending upon his release from University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics in Columbia. Deitas was shot at least twice and transported by air ambulance Saturday evening.

Alexander provided false identification to deputies when he was detained, and was found in possession of drug paraphernalia upon being booked into the Pettis County Jail. A $25,000 warrant was also issued for Alexander Sunday morning for charges of identity theft, forgery, possession of drug paraphernalia, prior offender, and possession of prohibited items at a county jail.

The four men are alleged to have forced entry to the occupied apartment in the 400 block of South Walnut Street and stealing a pistol while inside. When confronted by the apartment’s resident, the pistol was pointed at the resident who fired a .45-caliber pistol in his possession, striking Allen Deitas. Authorities determined the resident to have acted in self defense, and the prosecutor declined to file charges against him.

[bigwheelzip]

Originally Posted by okiegtrider

Not exactly what I think of when I think armed citizen stories and OMG!

I mentioned it because of grover99's theme of bad things happening in even the smallest of towns, and the need to be prepared, just in case.

The reason I had coffee with that man, was because I was on my way to a mining ghost town, and had stopped in front of his home looking at an enormous pile of spent brass in front of his house, when he came out to chat, then offered a cup of coffee.

On the way to his kitchen, I saw a loaded AR. On his kitchen table was a 1911. He said that brass pile out front was because he shoots at targets from there. Then got around to the day that the man that everyone thought of as a friend, calmly left his home, and became a mass murderer. In the midst of thousands of square miles of beautiful Alaskan wilderness, a friend transformed into evil, and proved that you never know, and should always be prepared.

[Drm50]

I live in a village of around 300-400, at times we have had a town Marshall
but funds run out and they let him go. Sheriff is counted on to cover the
village. Can be a hour away. We have had 2 bank robberies here in last
10 yrs, both were caught the same day. Everyone in these parts are heeled and neighbors watch out for one another. We have our share of
Crime, but no shootings for years.

[S&WIowegan]

People who live in small towns have false sense of safety and security. In Iowa, our HUGE problem is country peckerwood meth heads. Meth heads get desperate!!

People who wait until it happens to them are just foolish.

[Fastbolt]

People are people, for everything good or ill that may portend.

The world has never been guaranteed to be a "safe" place.

OP, when I read your first post my initial thought was to wonder if the shooting "victim" had been involved in a criminal act, or a DV incident.

before I retired we lived for approx 30 years in a medium-size town ("village", pop 22K) which contracted with the Sheriff. Now that I'm retired we live in another county, in a smallish rural town (pop 6K) which relies upon the Sheriff. Lots of Sheriff and CHP (local highway through the mountains, and another one several miles away) can be seen now and again. When we bought our new property the realtor, who lived here growing up for many years, told us that there were a LOT of guns in these hills, and even lots of retired public safety folks (when he finally learned of my career). He also told us of the "groups" of folks we wouldn't want for neighbors, and steered us away from areas where they were mostly located (but folks of criminal ilk are mobile, you know ).

I've worked contract and unincorporated beats myself during my career, so I understand how distance and time can have an impact. I once worked where cover could be more than 30-45 minutes away, depending on the shift coverage.

A little awareness and prudence can be a good thing, even in the "nicest" of places.

[Iggy]

If you wanted to burglarize or rob a place for money, jewelry, electronics or guns, where do you suspect the easiest place to find them would be?

A city zone full of armed "ganstas" or an more affluent suburban area where every perceived fat cat is convinced it will never happen to them.

I think I would go where the goodies are and the cops aren't.

[Mtnfolk325]

I'm always armed, even in my Recliner at home. If I knew when & where I would need a defensive weapon, I would arrange to be someplace else ....

True is, you never know so it is best to always be prepared.

[tx40d]

I agree with the sediment here regarding crime can happen anywhere and vigilance is a virtue.

I often find myself needing to remind other family members and friends to keep an eye out at all times, fortunately I can rely on the local section of our city paper on any given day to illustrate this point to them. So far a few of this week's examples include (but not limited to):
1. Man found shot in head in southwest Houston field
2. Woman shot to death by neighbor at Spring residence
3. Robbery suspects terrorize store, shoot delivery man
4. Grandkids hide during home invasion near Clear Lake
5. Man killed during meetup for online transaction in Spring
6. Spring ISD students robbed at bus stop; suspects in custody
7. Single dad gunned down at Pearland home
And next week there will be a whole new set of examples.

Although, once in a while we do get a few where the good guys win:
1. Dog saves woman from attacker in The Woodlands
2. Ft. Bend homeowner disarms burglars, holds them at gunpoint

Sometimes this helps to wake them up (but not always).

Regards,
tx40d

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by tx40d

I agree with the sediment here

Whoa!

I'll bet you're looking for sentiment, ya?

The sediment are the dirtbags who commit the crimes.

I knew what you meant.

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

Bob

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by Fastbolt

He also told us of the "groups" of folks we wouldn't want for neighbors, and steered us away from areas where they were mostly located (but folks of criminal ilk are mobile, you know ).

Wanna hear something ironic? By my own reckoning, I have two "red-alert" zones in my general routine. And boy, they are bizarre.

Red-Alert #1 is my gun club.

For starters, I'm a club officer and RSO, so from time to time I have to chat with somebody about a safety violation while I'm there. 100% of the time, they're armed, and with 1200 members, there's no end to the all-kinds-of-crazy I could be dealing with. So I usually recruit a witness (which backs me up if I have to report the guy, and calms most people down), and I feel a lot more comfortable being accompanied by Mr Glock or Mr Springfield. I also tend to wait until they've emptied their magazines.

For another, it's remote. Anybody can just walk in through the woods or around the driveway gate. I'm frequently there alone, sometimes the only visitor for hours, and commonly after dark. Plus, nobody's going to call the cops and report gunshots. I'd feel awful bloody stupid getting robbed and shot with my own guns. And if I did get shot--help ain't coming for me. Most of the time nobody even knows I'm there. So if I'm there alone, there's always a loaded gun on my hip.

Red Alert #2 is a small convenience store in a little lakeside town where I go to fish. Just the same as I swing by to grab some milk and ice cream, the hill boys come down for beer and cigarettes and scratchers. I know some of them to be okay guys, some of them to be a little "off", and more than a few of them to be fairly dangerous individuals with firearms collections of "debatable legality". A couple miles away from multi-million dollar mansions, there's guys living in shacks with dirt floors, and Nazi flags flying outside.

[Bekeart]

No Crime in Small Towns ? - Ask or Read Charlie Sherrill's posts about "Life in Modern Mississippi".

As opposed to Mark Twain's "Life on the Mississippi"

One thing about crime in small town - a smaller "usual list of suspects" ...

Bekeart

[steelslaver]

I live in a town of 6000 and it is over 100 miles to anyplace bigger. Crime is fairly rare here. BUT, there are a few wackos, there is a bit of meth around and that never helps anything. Plus, lots of criminals are not all that astute.
They do stupid stuff all the time. For a couple of them to decide to go to small town Montana and rob a couple places, because nobody know us and they don't expect it, might be the plan, totally forgetting that its a over a 100 miles to anywhere once you do it. DUH.


Then every once in the while somebody just flat goes nuts, for what ever reason. Plus, although I am not one that really worries about animals, but, cougar tracks sometimes appear in the neighbor hood, some of the bucks that wonder through the yard during the rut could be a bit crazy. stuff happens.

Not that hard to carry a gun here, and the old saw that it is better to have one and not need it has truth to it.

[6GUNSONLY]

Our town of 35,000 or so is relatively low crime, at least as far as violent crime, but they found a guy shot to death in his car 1/2 mile down the road from my house in a cornfield 2 days ago. I carry, all the time. The person who has a gun but doesn't carry is no better armed than the man who doesn't have a gun at all.

[JohnSW]

In my suburb, the crime rate is so consistently very-low that concealed carry here would be silly. Statistically, it would make much more sense for me to wear a NASCAR fireproof suit and helmet when I drive to the grocery store, than to conceal carry here.

(I know, from ambulance calls, that police response time is just a few minutes.)

[balin]

The violent crime and homicide rate in the USA has been going down for the ladt 20 some years. But it can happen at any time. So I carry every time I leave the house .

[jack the toad]

Same crime(s) happens in my small town as it does in big cities, just not as frequent. Thank goodness.
The sheer number of instances and the per capita rate are well under the national average but it does occasionally happen. So I hope to be prepared for it when it does and comes my way.
And as already posted, I'd much rather be in small town USA if a major problem or widespread event occurred, than anywhere near the big city.

[Ziggy2525]

Originally Posted by bigwheelzip

I mentioned it because of grover99's theme of bad things happening in even the smallest of towns, and the need to be prepared, just in case.

The reason I had coffee with that man, was because I was on my way to a mining ghost town, and had stopped in front of his home looking at an enormous pile of spent brass in front of his house, when he came out to chat, then offered a cup of coffee.

On the way to his kitchen, I saw a loaded AR. On his kitchen table was a 1911. He said that brass pile out front was because he shoots at targets from there. Then got around to the day that the man that everyone thought of as a friend, calmly left his home, and became a mass murderer. In the midst of thousands of square miles of beautiful Alaskan wilderness, a friend transformed into evil, and proved that you never know, and should always be prepared.

Funny. (ETA - in an odd way, not a humorous one)

I rode my motorcycle to Hyder, AK back in 2010. Small ex-mining, now tourist town. The only way in or out is by float plane or a Canadian border crossing. I noticed there were no police. I asked the bartender if that was an issue. His response was, "Everybody in town is pretty much armed and there isn't any place to run. No problem."