71

It's the number of homicides so far in the Indianapolis metro area for 2008. There have been higher numbers and lower numbers. It's like riding ocean waves. We have to be sure we aren't rudderless, lest we set adrift in a conundrum and roll over.

There are plenty of stats for this. Go to the net and find them. I prefer to talk of reasons, of who and how. Why is easily manipulated but not impossible to tackle.

The predominant deaths are those of criminals killing criminals, that is, mostly drug related slayings. Of that, several dealers killing dealers, a few 'ripoffs' from users and revenge slayings, almost always gang related.

The gang problem is bad here. We have Black and Latino gangs vying for territory. The drug traffic and murder for hire is significant. We are not L.A., Chicago, NYC etc. We are wannabes compared to them. But it's bad enough for people to be concerned. Notice I didn't say scared. Fear doesn't solve anything and only serves the gangs and those who would take our guns. It serves these thugs well if we are afraid and cower.

Some of the deaths are murder/suicide. There was a particular case where a divorced guy kidnapped his ex and daughter, then shot the ex and then himself.

One elderly man was stabbed to death in his home as a prelude to robbery. Another elderly man was beaten to death for the same reason. A gun stolen was used to shoot a cop pursuing the perp.

There are a few who are in the wrong place at the wrong time, usually in relation to drive by shootings. One boy was shot to death and one little girl fortunately survived a stomach wound. Bangers and other bad guys don't care where the bullets go. Several home invasions have occurred by and large for robbery.

One seems unique to me. A local Reverend has been preaching against violence and frequently holds vigils for families of murder victims. For the moment, whether he is pro or antigun is put by the wayside. He has been effective in rallying people so they are not afraid of gangs vis a vis drug dealers.

Now, part of this solution is to be armed and prepared.. But any effort by citizens to stop the gangs is of course a threat to them and their grip of fear. The home invasion that precipitated the Rev's daughter's death was a put up job to look like a robbery. Any attempt to root the vermin out is met with violence. Ask my wife and me. We have rousted drug houses and stopped gang activity in our neighborhood. Why we carry is greatly due to this (There are more reasons I've discussed elsewhere namely the 2A).

You might wonder how I surmise this 'put up job'. We know the streets. Progun and antidrug cops too. We have learned what the s****** do to stop us firsthand. And the antis dance in the blood of the innocent and guilty alike.

It is a war. A war against decency. A war to stop instilling fear and thus entrench criminals. It is a war that can be won when those of us who carry enforce our own lives. Peace in the streets is possible with armed vigilant citizens. And the knowledge of how to take apart the 'machine' in the streets. We take the war to those who would enslave us, whether in the streets or more saliently in the halls of government.

I see no difference between a gangbanger seeking my life to proliferate crime than a gov 'official' who seeks to disarm me. How we respond tends to depend on what we encounter.