OT--Sign of the Times????

[epresley]

Let me lay some ground work for this thread. I live in San Angelo, Texas, population 88,000. Big time West Texas--not on an interstate, somewhat isolated. Retirement community. We average 2 homicides a year. We averaged that the whole 10 years I've been here. Today, we had the 5th AND 6th of 2009 and the 10th/11th of the past six months!!!!!!! We're freaking!!! I don't know if it's the economy, job loss, or what, but wow, what a difference.

[bluejeangirl76]

I don't know if it's the economy, job loss, or what, but wow, what a difference.

Probably both. Things are so bad that people are just snapping. I heard a news report about the increase of car burning (abandoning and blazing a car in a remote area and claiming theft). People can't make the payments so insurance fraud is on the rise.

Its crazy everywhere.

[G.I.Jim]

I don't know if it's the economy, job loss, or what, but wow, what a difference.

Probably both. Things are so bad that people are just snapping. I heard a news report about the increase of car burning (abandoning and blazing a car in a remote area and claiming theft). People can't make the payments so insurance fraud is on the rise.

Its crazy everywhere.

I say, just stock up on ammo...I'm ready! I've bought 4 guns in the last year, and until last year...I didn't own a single gun. I live out in the country on a big piece of land, so I can actually target practice in my back yard. Not that I need the practice, but I do enjoy it. I've fired so many types of weapons in my years of being in the military, but it's still a lot of fun.

I've also taught my wife and 12 year old son how to shoot and use the guns also. It's something they need to know in case I'm not there, and I think gun safety is something that all families (especially with what's going on out there these days) should learn.

I'm sure someone here will call me a right-wing nut-job, but hey...whatever it takes to keep my family safe and secure. If some asshole breaks into MY house, he's going to have a very rude awakening.

[Don]

I don't know if it's the economy, job loss, or what, but wow, what a difference.

Probably both. Things are so bad that people are just snapping. I heard a news report about the increase of car burning (abandoning and blazing a car in a remote area and claiming theft). People can't make the payments so insurance fraud is on the rise.

Its crazy everywhere.

Speaking of insurance.

Economy leaves millions of drivers uninsured

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30093235/

[NealIsGod]

Serial killer? Tainted water supply?

[Triple S]

. . . and then there's beautiful Vancouver, BC. 30+ murders since mid-January. Most of them gang/drug related, but not all. Almost expected now when you turn on the 6 o'clock news to hear 'there's been yet another murder . . .'. Not very good promo for the upcoming Olympics.

[StoneCold]

. . . and then there's beautiful Vancouver, BC. 30+ murders since mid-January. Most of them gang/drug related, but not all. Almost expected now when you turn on the 6 o'clock news to hear 'there's been yet another murder . . .'. Not very good promo for the upcoming Olympics.

you've got a gang problem in Canada?

[G.I.Jim]

. . . and then there's beautiful Vancouver, BC. 30+ murders since mid-January. Most of them gang/drug related, but not all. Almost expected now when you turn on the 6 o'clock news to hear 'there's been yet another murder . . .'. Not very good promo for the upcoming Olympics.

you've got a gang problem in Canada?

Yeah...and robberies take forever. They have to wait for the victums to unzip their show-suits!

[Rip Rokken]

I say, just stock up on ammo...I'm ready! I've bought 4 guns in the last year, and until last year...I didn't own a single gun. I live out in the country on a big piece of land, so I can actually target practice in my back yard. Not that I need the practice, but I do enjoy it. I've fired so many types of weapons in my years of being in the military, but it's still a lot of fun.

I've also taught my wife and 12 year old son how to shoot and use the guns also. It's something they need to know in case I'm not there, and I think gun safety is something that all families (especially with what's going on out there these days) should learn.

I'm sure someone here will call me a right-wing nut-job, but hey...whatever it takes to keep my family safe and secure. If some asshole breaks into MY house, he's going to have a very rude awakening.

Very interesting that you mentioned this, because I just had a conversation with a co-worker who also has a dealer's license, and he said he couldn't order several different brands/models of handguns right now because they are in such high demand that many are on backorder. He said he thought the economy was a major factor in this.

[Triple S]

. . . and then there's beautiful Vancouver, BC. 30+ murders since mid-January. Most of them gang/drug related, but not all. Almost expected now when you turn on the 6 o'clock news to hear 'there's been yet another murder . . .'. Not very good promo for the upcoming Olympics.

you've got a gang problem in Canada?

Gangs, organized crime - absolutely - mostly in the bigger cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, but it is starting to move closer to home too. See, here in BC, we have an abundance of a valuable commodity that these guys can trade for other valuable commodities. And the laws here are not as tough as yours - most of these guys that have been shot, or are shooting others, have been arrested for numerous serious crimes but are somehow still walking around free. And where some of these shootings are taking place is a concern - shopping mall parking lots, restaurants and such- innocent people have already been caught in the crossfire, wrong place at the wrong time.

[Peartree12249]

Let me lay some ground work for this thread. I live in San Angelo, Texas, population 88,000. Big time West Texas--not on an interstate, somewhat isolated. Retirement community. We average 2 homicides a year. We averaged that the whole 10 years I've been here. Today, we had the 5th AND 6th of 2009 and the 10th/11th of the past six months!!!!!!! We're freaking!!! I don't know if it's the economy, job loss, or what, but wow, what a difference.

Hey San Angelo! Home of one of my favorite bands Los Lonely Boys.

I was there once, flew into SA on my way to Eden (really out in the middle of nowhere). I remember getting off the plane and looking around and thinking " Man it's flatter than piss on a plate out here.

I'm sorry you're having problems. I wonder if some of this is spill-over from the drug wars in Mexico. Or maybe people are just under stress from the bad economy.

[Peartree12249]

. . . and then there's beautiful Vancouver, BC. 30+ murders since mid-January. Most of them gang/drug related, but not all. Almost expected now when you turn on the 6 o'clock news to hear 'there's been yet another murder . . .'. Not very good promo for the upcoming Olympics.

you've got a gang problem in Canada?

Yeah...and robberies take forever. They have to wait for the victums to unzip their show-suits!

What's a show suit?