TennWatch/Volitics

Good News/Bad News in Car Crime

Car thefts decreased "a dramatic 16.3 percent" in Memphis last year, according to the Commercial Appeal. (In Bartlett this number was over 33%.)

On the other hand, car burgluraries jumped up 24 percent.

So at least they are leaving your car — it just has a smashed window, torn up dash where they ripped out the radio, and so on. But you can still drive home.

A sure way to stop car burglaries, [Memphis Police Lt. Joseph Scott] said, is to stop leaving valuables in cars where they can be seen. "A car is not secure," Scott said. Leaving guns, cameras, laptops "entices them to break in to get their fix."

Why would you leave your gun in the car? It should stay with you! How else are you going to stop the bad guys?

Bartlett Crime Wave

The Bartlett Express reports that the Stage Road corridor experienced "a crime wave" in 2006, and there have already been store robberies on the east end, west end and a business located on Bartlett Blvd. off Stage Road (which is pretty close to the west end). A related story gives the details:

• Jan. 6: 2 black males armed with a silver handgun robbed the Tan-N-Go on Bartlett Blvd, reaping less than $100.
• Jan. 11, 1 black male robbed the Friendly Quick Stop on Stage Road at gunpoint. The owner gave the criminal about $3,000 but refused to hand over a laptop (?!). The lowlife then attempted to murder the store owner, attempting to fire the gun twice. The gun failed (criminals are idiots), the pair struggled, and the scum fled.
• Jan. 15, 1 black male who was holding something that may have been a weapon robbed the Geno's Stop and Save on Stage Road. The amount gained was not reported.

The west end of Bartlett butts up against Memphis and the neighborhoods in that area are declining. In fact, I moved from that area just under a year ago just because of that very fact.

What is our elected leaders doing? Anyone? Ah yes, seven new officers. No reported change in tactics or policies.

I'm beginning to regret not moving out of the county. At $1.91 a gallon, who cares that the drive is a little longer?

Deputy Whip Blackburn

Congratulations to Congressman Marsha Blackburn for being appointed to the leadership position of Deputy Whip. From the newsletter:

Blackburn will work closely with Minority Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) in communicating with fellow Republican members the goals and strategies needed to oppose the tax and spending policies soon to be introduced by the Democrat majority.

Not bad for someone who first entered the federal scene in 2003.