New Haven Independent: Mayor, Dixwell Talk Guns

Mayor, Dixwell Talk Guns

by Melinda Tuhus | January 10, 2007 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

doug%20bethea.JPG Doug Bethea, who lost his son to gun violence in November, is forming a group made up of fellow grieving parents who have buried their own murdered children. He announced the group Tuesday night at a packed meeting Tuesday night in the Dixwell neighborhood, as Mayor John DeStefano took his plan to combat gun violence on the road.

DeStefano’s presentation to more than 50 people who tried to cram into the community center at Monterrey Place showed how guns have been used increasingly in homicides, and how both victims and perpetrators are getting younger. The mayor outlined the city’s plans to create a firearms unit and work with state police to track illegal guns. Other proposals include adding 80 cops over the next two years, intervening early with truant youngsters and compelling testimony from witnesses to crimes.

That last proposal sounded especially good to Bethea. After his son, Robert Bennett, 20, was shot near where the meeting was held, he said he went on a “rampage,” constantly calling the mayor and the city’s top cops. Click hereto listen. His basic message was that members of the community have to take responsibility “” not as vigilantes, but working along with the cops “” for reining in the violence. He also announced that he contacted the families of every person killed in New Haven last year, and some from the year before. They’re forming a new group, Parents Against Inner City Crime, to magnify their voices on the issue.

The mayor announced that he’s appointed Officer Shafiq Abdussabur “” who works in Dixwell and has a proven track record of connecting with youth “” to be the new coordinator for street outreach.

Several people mentioned the importance of going after those who bring the guns into the community, not just those who end up committing a violent crime with those guns. Sheneane Ragin (pictured) said a bill that failed in the state legislature last year would have required gun owners to immediately report guns that were missing or stolen. If it had passed, she said, “We would’ve been able to track where guns are coming from so we can put a real plan in place to get guns off the street.”

Asked what she thought of the mayor’s plan, she was non-committal. “It’ll be interesting to see”¦” she began, then trailed off.

Mayoral spokesman Derek Slap said supporting that bill this year is a top priority of his administration.

Another resident applauded the mayor’s plan but said what’s missing is a conflict management component, so teens with a beef and access to weapons don’t automatically turn to guns to solve it. Lack of options for those coming back to the neighborhood after leaving prison was also cited as a problem. And many others stressed the need for parents to be role models and to just be present for their children.

One homeowner asked DeStefano what kind of impact putting his proposals into effect would have on the bottom line “” her property taxes. He replied that federal funding for cops ($3.3 million in the mid-1990s) has completely dried up, so the $3 million it will cost to train and add the new officers to the department will come from an increase in property taxes of one-third to one-half mill. (The mill rate is currently $44.85 on each thousand dollars of a home’s assessed value.) She asked him to seek out other ways to fund city government. He replied, with an ironic laugh, that he’d spent the last two years on the gubernatorial campaign trail making that a key component of his effort to unseat Gov. M. Jodi Rell “” without success.

Accompanying the mayor were Police Chief Cisco Ortiz, both deputy chiefs, Herman Badger and Stephanie Redding, several other members of the police department, and Chief Administrative Officer John Buturla. They stood in a phalanx against one wall throughout the meeting, a visual reminder that the city is making the issue of gun violence a top priority.

“It’s great to have ideas in City Hall,” the mayor told residents at the start of the meeting, “but people don’t live in City Hall.” Based on a quick survey of several attendees at the end of the meeting, it appeared that the residents of Dixwell “” at least those who came to the meeting “” are prepared to work with the mayor to reclaim their streets.

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Comments

Posted by: Ronald Moore | January 10, 2007 3:26 PM

A five, or six hundred dollar 9mm semi-automatic pistol, Tech-9, or AR-15 assault rifle is an expensive item, carrying both lethality, but also status.
These are not the guns being turned-in for gift coupons to Shaw's and the Stop & Shop.
People that have acquired these weapons, by whatever means, prize them for street credibility, and notoriety, as much as for protection, or other nefarious ends. These weapons are not outside under a rock. These are to be found in the homes of teenagers, and young adults living at home, who use them.
Why not make an important part of any policy a "Clean Homes Policy". Parents can undertake to control their own household to ascertain that illegally-possessed fire arms are not being maintained by teenagers, and young adults residing under their roofs.

A safe community begins at home!

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | January 10, 2007 4:59 PM

This Is Not Just A Parent And Home Problem,Infact
This Is A American Problem That Has Lax Gun Control Laws And The Illegal Arms Trade Which Is Like The Illegal Drug Trade. If You Study This Illegal Arms Trade you will Find That Big Money Is Being Made From This. Infact Illegal Guns From
The United States Are Now Finding There Way to The
Caribbean Island and Put In The Hands of Caribbean Youth. Also West Africa Is Having A Problem With Illegal Arms Coming Into the Country.
How Come the Biggest Gun Manfactures Are Here In
Connecticut And Surrouding New England States,
Colt-Hartford,MossbergShotguns-NorthHaven.Marlin-
NorthHaven, Ruger-Newport N.H.,Also I Blame The
Gun Licensing In This State That Allow The Gun
Permit Holder to Carry A Firearm Conceal. This Should Not Be In New Jersey And New York You Have
Three Types Of Gun Permits And To Get a Permit To
Carry A Conceal Firearm You Must Have a Good Reason or Be a Retired Law Enforcement Officer.
Also Blame The Politicians That Take That NRA Money That Keep These Lax Gun Laws. Again Blame Goes Around The Table.

Posted by: Didn't trail off - Just flooded with thoughs | January 11, 2007 1:17 AM

"Asked what she thought of the mayorâ€™s plan, she was non-committal. â€œItâ€™ll be interesting to seeâ€¦â€? she began, then trailed off." New Haven Independent---------

This is what I think:

I think the approach the Mayor proposed is a great start.

I agree with tough penalties for those committing violent crimes, but more importantly even tougher penalties need to be put in place and enforced of those trafficing guns. I believe in solving the problem at the source.

If we don't put a real effort into stopping adults supplying children with gun we will continue to lock up and bury black boys at disproportionately alarming rates. The more serious criminals who must be taken off the streets are moving silently in the background undisturbed and not pursued, because it's easier to capture the most obvious. Drugs in the community is a prime example; however, unlike substances guns are trackable. We have to do what's right and protect our nations children from these drug dealing, gun smuggling predators.

It is my suggestion, to educate kids on what these laws will mean to them. The laws need to be posted where teens and young adults congregate, they need to be discussed at schools, information should be in the media (print & televised) and distributed in the churches.

Lastly, CT Paret Power arranged a meeting for parents to meet with legislators in a trip to Hartford. As a New Haven parent delegate, I spoke to Representative Reynolds who sits on the Public Safety Committee who told me, the NRA is very influential at the Capitol. He said that, he wants to see people who care about gun violence show up in bus loads at the Capitol.

I suggest a city wide pushed for everyone to go to Hartford and get involved in making sure our voices are heard. I suggest city to city networking in support of other cities impacted by this rash of chaos.

I suggest a loud and clear message. We will not tolerate politians ignoring this problem. We will not tolerate elected officials putting the NRA before citizen children in our state. We will not tolerate living in a state of fear... Jeremiah 12:5&6.....NEVER GIVE UP...Get involved. It's cool!

Posted by: Ned | January 11, 2007 8:23 AM

NRA members are citizens too, and have a right to be heard. Why would anyone need a gun?, uhm how about to walk around New Haven (or any other American city)? I'm a 145lb white, gay guy and I can't keep count of the number of times I here "yo faggot" or "white fag" usually followed by threats of death or grievous bodily injury. Hell even Toad's place featured and "artist" Buju Banton (sp?) who sings about shooting "fags" - I understand he's wildly popular amongst some in the Black/Carribean community. Usually the first thing a Communist government does is disarm the population - the police seem to work mostly to defend people with money and power (look at any poitician's security escort) and the rest of us get what resources are left over. While visiting Turkey I saw guns for sale everywhere, in the main pedestrian underpass in the middle of Istanbul, right alongside cell phones. The Turks are a lot poorer than the U.S., yet I neither saw nor heard about any street crime - I guess it's a cultural thing? How about Israel, Switzerland, both awash in guns, both with lower murder rates. Americans seem to love violence, punishment and puritanism.

Posted by: nfjanette | January 11, 2007 5:36 PM

Unfortunately, the NRA has leaned to the right in response to the anti-gun crowd over the past 20 or so years. I've seen more than a few people at the gun range that should have had their weapons confiscated because of poor safety and/or general attitudes. The middle, rational position is to continue to allow private citizens to obtain weapons, but to require increased training in their safe and appropriate usage - especially handguns. Also, much more strict limits on the number of purchases per month/year allowed would stop the channel of legal weapons flowing into illegal distribution channels. Collectors will howl - but let them, because this vector is providing the highest quality firearms to the scum of society.

Posted by: Didn't trail off - Just flooded with thoughs | January 11, 2007 8:38 PM

When speaking of improving the quality of life for all people, somethings are deeper than man's selfish desire to be.

Posted by: Didn't trail off - Just flooded with thoughs | January 11, 2007 8:49 PM

Don't be confused, we are not talking about taking away the right to bear arms or the NRA.

New Haven Independent

Mayor, Dixwell Talk Guns

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