This opinion piece appeared in the 7.26.2011 print/e-edition of The Herald-Gazette. It is posted here for open commenting. Do you feel safe in our community? We will not let this thread deteriorate into a platform for ripping those who are, have been or would be sheriff!
Yet another shooting. Yet another death!
It is time to face the facts. Barnesville-Lamar County has a serious crime problem and it is growing worse by the day.
Comments
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 - 11:05 AM
What part of "attend school and play football at the Georgia Institute of Technology [...]
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 - 10:28 AM
Way to go Randy!!!
Julia
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 - 09:52 AM
Ecclesiastes 8:11
11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, peop [...]
about Is Walmart deal dead?
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 - 04:57 AM
I personally wouldn't mind Walmart coming into Barnesville. At another location pref [...]
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 - 04:34 AM
They are going there to play football?
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look at the murder we had Joe made investigators work through Christmas to solve this case even know he wasn't reelected that is real character and dedication to his Job.
I am tired of being quiet about this.
you people better wake up and make the right decisions like the county commission who cares less about you most of them already have it made jay they don't care about a tax increase it wont hurt them. all you Joe haters go ahead and spread rumors it will get you no where this time.
only god will judge me you know who I am Brad the computer hacker
Man's laws will never work, thats why we have have so many .
Besides, THEY make so many but enforce very few .
We need laws that if broken, the criminal SUFFERS consequences instead of finding loopholes that let them slip right thru the fingers of the justice system !
If our laws can't protect the innocent then the innocent will have to protect themselves .
The history of the KKK is not all about hatred and racism ! My great grandfather was a klan member . The KKK in the early days didn't care the color of your skin like the skinheads . If you weren't living right they would pay you a visit .
Its about due time for a Christian based lynch mob or klan to rid this earth of the evil that surrounds all of us !
If a person murders another, give that person the opportunity to ask forgiveness of his/her sins and accept Christ in his/her heart and then sentence them to death immediately ! We all know Brian Nichols is guilty, so start with him !
Civil rights for felons? Those words shouldn't even go in the same sentence.
I would like the word to get out that Lamar county is not a place to live if you want to run your scams and break the law. Take your lifestyle up the road to Clayton County or wherever.
And I'm in total agreement as far as putting our jail patrons to work. The litter problem here drives me crazy.
it already is that way!
This is an overreaction. The latest shooting, just like the previous ones, are not random acts that threaten other citizens. These people knew one another, criminals are not going around willy-nilly shooting innocents.
Things will really be bad when we allow irrational fear to rule and punish all citizens to solve a problem limited to a small segment. If you are so willing to give up the civil rights (which are really basic human rights) then you probably admired Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia where much the same arguements were made to keep people safe.
To live as a free person, one has to assume certain minor risks. The way people are willing to give away these rights for the appearance of safety is disgusting and cowardly.
Also, the city needs to step up and hire more officers. Two on duty at night cannot cut it anymore. If anyone listens to their scanners they know that there are so many calls that go out, two people cant handle it. Just wait until an officer gets hurt or killed. Is that what is going to wake the city up?
Crime is crime no matter what color commits it.
I agree with number 12 that the barnesville police are hanging out at flash foods to much for the free coffee etc. What we need is community involvement like neighborhood watch and civillan patrol to help maqke things safer. When you call into the police department they are to concerned with getting your name so they can tell the party doing the deed who called on them. Thats one reason nobody wants to get involved. It scares them.
The jails should not be places of return trips. Take a look at the Sheriff's report of the past year in your county. Count the return offenders? What does that tell you?
Someone in comment number 1 mentioned Joe Buice? Is he planning on running in the upcoming election?
Say it IS SO....JOE!
This is what is wrong with our country.
1. If you go to a mans castle to Robb it, day or night the sentence is life.
2. If you carry a weapon with you...thats life without parole.
3. If you harm someone during a break in that a death sentence.
No first time offender stuff is off the table.
Do it in Georgia and make the nation
Proud... Call all your elected officials and lets get it done this next General Assembly..your life depends on it..
We live in a society now that justifies the actions of the thugs out on the streets. Its not a black, white, or hispanic thing. Its a culture thing. In certain cultures, people actually try to live out what they hear in rap music for instance. The sad thing is, its acceptable in certain cultures. Vulgar language, robbing, shooting, selling dope, disrespecting women, etc. This culture that has most negativley affected this community is the thug way of living. A thug can be of any ethnic group you want it to. Being a thug is an action. If the shoe fits, wear it. True, the majority of the thugs are black but there are many in other races.
Solution. Tent city for all inmates. Have one fan at the entrance of each big tent. Have razor wire around the facility. Non violent offenders will work throughout the county and other offenders that are willing to work will up keep the area in which the other inmates live in. Have a huge garden to somewhat feed them as well that they would work in. The sheriffs dept should be in cahoots with other agencies to help improve the community. No wanting them to shuffle money around to get paid for their work that is done. It should be free labor. PB&J sandwich, apple, milk or orange juice and send them to work all day. You have to feed them reguardless. No need to charge the county for labor. Have an officer over them instead of their buddies or cousins that they hang out with on the street watching them(rec dept). Shuffling money around doesnt fix a budget issue, it creates one. The officers are getting paid reguardless, the inmates have to be fed reguardless. There is no extra cost in it. Send them out and work them.
For major violators, bring back public executions. Charge a $7 entry fee per person to watch it. Have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, drinks etc. All proceeds go to the county funds. Have it at a gym or the football field. This will stop a lot of foolish activity.
I worked at a chain gang long enough. I know the way things should be ran. I can take 4 other ex-officers or current officers and a 7 man detail for each and make this county look better than eagles landing in 3 months. We dont have the will or someone to take the initiative to do something. Too many people dont want to rock the boat. They want a paycheck and thats it.
So how about instead of putting them down and always complaining, tell them thanks for what they do. Ask yourself how YOU could step up to the plate and be a more active part of the community. The police cant do it alone. The police do not make the laws either. They do not hand down the sentences. The judge and juries need to do a better job and keep these people in jail!
I hear President Obama and US Senate. Budget cuts near Law Enforcement and Senior Citizens. No firearms in 2013 and 2016. New electroshock weapon in 2014. President Obama said.
Well, they don't know squat about a pond. If you remove all the little fish the big fish won't have anything to eat and bite at the first thing you throw at it(undercover cop).
I agree with the poster that said they get a huge budget, there shouldn't be any crime here. The thug mentality has to go.
Take back our city? We shouldn't have let it go to start with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If a person commits a crime, they should loose most of their rights. They chose to commit the crime, so they chose to lose their rights. I agree, we should ONLY provide the BARE ESSENTIALS. No A/C, No TV, No Dental and only the basic medical. No visitation, sorry but if you wanted to visit with your family...you shouldn't have gotten locked up! If the inmates lost their rights, the prison budget could shrink.
How many of you have been inside a Prison? Here's a little piece of information...The Prisons that I have visited (only visited,never stayed), were all nicer than the schools my kids attend here in Lamar.
As for the Huddle House... set up the road blocks near Hog Mountain again, if the Owner complains...well, that's what we have a County Attorney for....Right?
Ronald L. Horton the other owner.
Unless and until the chief elected official for law enforcement in this county gets serious about enforcing the law in the immediate area, there will be no change.
Lamar, you got what you voted for. The blog owner can howl and moan about the need for change, but when you are paying someone $70,000+ per year to do a job, and they aren't, you have found the problem.
Now, let's see if Mister Censor passes on this one.
That's just "mines" opinion.
while they are at it they have them stopped for a crime search the car they are in. i bet there will be more then a radio in the car.
so let's say there is nothing else in the car.when they get out of jail and get their car out of impound and see waht that cost maybe they will turn it down from now on.
now that the problem for that is solved let's have block police. when they spot a car doing something wrong take the tag number down and call it in. if it was speeding give them a speeding ticket. if it was speeding then there's probale cause to check the car out also.
iit should not matter if they are black or white green or yellow.
where there are signs at that says no loitering then enforce it.
like i said start small.
if the ACLU,NAACP or any of them dont like it then watch where their car's are parked and if they are not parked in a legal place give them a ticket too.
this is just my thought's on it where they are right or wrong.
truth you all can't handle.
Years later came the racist haters .
I hope that someone new runs for Sheriff...its got to be better than what we have had!!!!!
this kind of attituide is what the kids of today have been taught. just like i always say the problem is not todays kids and young adult's but the way they were raised and he just proved my point.
Now, on to the topic at hand. I do feel safe here, but I am also watchful and I don't object to calling on authorities to help me any time I need them. I don't want to advertise here who I like, or don't like, for sheriff but I respect the office and the officers.
I do believe that we make life too easy for those who will not follow rules of good conduct. Those who kill, maim, steal, do drugs, etc. should be held responsible. There are reasons things happen, but that cannot be an excuse for being allowed to bargain their way out of trouble just to go out and do it again.
I am not sure though that the problem is strictly with the police. The legal system must include attorneys and courts and all of it to make things better.
So, picking on this sheriff or that one, or using racial comments as excuses, or any of the like does little good. We need to stay awake, stay alert, turn in the bad guys and look after those who don't commit crimes. That means the police departments and the courts and the entire system.
Julia
Trying to become a democracy has got us into trouble often enough...
Expand opportunity- lower crime rates.
Invest in America don't constrict it through self imposed political auterity programs.
Move to the 21st century leave 19th century thought behind.
Usually after clubbing everyone went home and had a good domestic fight. So how can we blame The Hortons club for all this violence taking over in Barnesville.
Seems to me some broke people with struggling businesses are hating on other people with a successful business. I mean let's be honest, how you all gonna take this so called moral high ground when it is so evident that it is just a bunch of people who need to have a glase of HATER-ADE.
Charity starts at home and so does corruption. If the Head, whether it is head of household or head of some type of Government is VIOLENT and use INTIMIDATION tatics to control, corrupt, greedy for ILL-GOTTEN GAIN then the body(the youth etc.) will follow.
So let's look at all the leadership in this town and examine ourselves accordingly either by ethics or Moral whichever one will keep you walking the straight and narrow and then we will see a turn around in our youths. The kids are watching us and they do what they see us do. The leaders in this community have set the tone of division, violence, indifference, spite, look at how we talk to each other on these blogs. Is that not violence?
And we have the nerve to want to blame all of this on a Club! How foolish is that?
If you are a professional whether you are a Civics leader, Teacher, a Policeman, then stop bringing shame to your profession with your behavior. We should be blameless and it can be done, If Dr. Harris can walk blameless and above ALL reproach all of these years then all of us can learn from his example and be a Professional as well.
If this is the case Walter, then the negative comments about the current Sheriff should not be allowed. Be fair!
Lack of discipline.
I remember in the day when the Junior high was in Milner Mr. Fuller just did not carry the paddle he used it. Teachers taught and we knew to sit there and listen.
In High School we had teachers like Mr. Bell who brought us into band. This gave us purpose and direction.
We were allowed to be teenagers! And parents knew one another. And believe me when we did something wrong our parents knew. And trust me they disiplined.
I am saddened to read this since I moved away 20 years ago. My husband and I were looking for somewhere nice to settle down and I am guessing it will not be in the town that I call home.
Unfortunately for him, the Courts will not see it that way, and rightly so.
I am so disappointed in what I read her and just about every article on here. There are people who are unhappy with how ANY thing is done. What I say to you. If you dont like it, FIX it. Set up neighborhood watches. Watch out for you and your neighbors.
Where I live 7% crime rate is nothing. On a weekly basis someone is being shot, stabbed or other wise assaulted. One day at the beginning of the summer we had 42 shootings. My grandchildren know when they see a helicopter over head to get in the house and lock the doors.
There are solutions to the problem. And its up to the community as a whole to solve them. Not just the sheriff. One way to start that is to stop being so negative and judgmental. Be nice to each other. Lead by example.What I read on some of these and other comments is downright embarrassing. Please be kind to each other.
is probably the embarrassment to the entire county, not our previous sheriff I see where this is going you are ignorant and just want to bash good people not try to solve the problem within our community. probably just another dead beat draining the taxpayers take your blinders off and use the little brain you may have left and not let politics rule your thinking or is it really maybe your personal gain like most. not whats really best for this county.
...I love you, you love me... Is that it? Sing it together everyone! Just one big happy family. Diversity! Tolerance! Celebrate and rejoice in them.
Meanwhile folks like Hambone are loading up, knowing what is REALLY coming.
Instead of this Kumbaya nonsense, you better be learning what a Mozambique Drill is. Here is an instructional video showing the technique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmKR6evZRQQ
Your time would be better spent doing this rather than hand holding and singing.
We don't expect and demand a lot from our youth. And we definately have not set high enough standards for them to strive to obtain. The Parent or guardian has to be that high standard and if we are responsible for setting that high standard then some of us will have to make some life changes like putting down the funny smelling cigaretts or pipe down, or stop beating your spouse or maybe nursing that beer, liquor, or wine bottle everyday will have to come to an end. What about that revolving door you have in your bedroom? Ohhh... that's your business right? You are a grown M/W and that's your house you pay the bill here and you do whatever you want to do...... with your small children watching "YOU". Not the HORTON'S. All this finger pointing going on but if we as parents really think back and examine our OWN lives will realize that there are 4 more fingers pointing at us.
So, a few of you want to blame the underpaid, under-appreciated officers that spend hours on end away from their families to protect your whining butts. Just be glad they are there! Every time I have needed one in Lamar County there has been an officer to help. Funny enough it seems that when something happens they always seem to know the offender very well... it would appear the county has a LOT of repeat offenders...
So that leads to blaming the courts... but then you're talking about a judge that can only have trial and sentences set forth by law... so his hands are tied in so many ways as to what punishment he can do...
So that leads to blaming the lawmakers... who are paid VERY well to keep common people like you happy by creating laws and punishments that sound good in theory because that's what the public wants...
OH WAIT.... THAT'S WHO WE BLAME... the voters! but then you say you didn't vote? so where do you get off?
There is no one person or group to blame. It is what it is. People aren't teaching their kids how to behave so they turn into criminals and our society doesn't know how to properly deal with it.
As for the idiot that tried to bring the Klan into it -- when are you people gonna realize that once you say the word "klan" people stop listening?
There is govnt corruption and there is a problem with that. However, the crimes that happen are linked to a culture as i have described.
however since this article is not related to them, I did not feel the need to address all crime. the point was that race has little to do with crime unless that race is predominantly poor. poverty and crime are related, but they are not the only relation. WOW.