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Use guns with caution, awareness
Published Sunday, January 6, 2008
NATCHEZ — Every American has the right to protect themselves in the case of a crime by whatever means possible.
In the South, it’s not difficult to find houses with loaded guns in tow. Police don’t advise that weapons be used in the case of a home invasion burglary, but they don’t tell you that you can’t.
Certain steps should be followed, though, if loaded guns are in the house.
With gun ownership comes gun safety responsibilities, Metro Narcotics agent Maj. Cliff Cox said.
“To even have a gun in the first place you need to go through training courses and familiarize yourself with it,” Cox said.
Along with educating yourself, you need to educate your children about gun safety, Cox said.
“They need to be told not to touch them,” he said.
Likewise, keeping the gun out of the reach of children is of utmost importance.
“The primary thing with weapon placement in the home is keeping it out of the reach of children,” Cox said. “A nosy child who is unfamiliar with a weapon could just pick it up and look down the barrel.”
The National Rifle Association also offers several tips, which include making sure the gun is safe to operate and will function properly, not using guns while using alcohol or drugs and making sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt, and that the area behind and around it are also clear.
But guns aren’t the only measure residents can take to protect themselves and their loved ones, Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Chuck Latham said.
The county has nine Neighborhood Watch programs, and all have been a great success, Latham said.
“It’s just so beneficial for a neighborhood,” he said. “It’s a well-organized way for neighbors to look out for each other.”
The program encourages neighbors to get to know each other, to learn what cars belong at what houses and to be suspicious of new faces.
Latham also said over the last five years several big cases have been solved using tips that came from local watch groups.
Downtown Natchez doesn’t have any active Neighborhood Watch groups, Mullins said, but neighbors can still be mindful of their surroundings.
“Look out for yourself and your neighbors,” he said.
Anyone wanting to start a watch group in their area can contact either the ACSO or NPD.
Comments
Posted by SecretSquirrel (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 12:28 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:34 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The break-ins in Natchez do not sound like the work of people hopped up on drugs. They sound like they were done by cold-bloodied professionals. Druggies may be bold but are seldom calm, collected, and quiet.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 5:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SecretSquirrel......I think maybe you are a little squirrely not to mention wrong on everything you just posted. I'm sure it is a mixed group and now that it is out there maybe even copy cat robberies but to say it is druggies NO. frogprincenessntz is right that these are pros and sorry but YES they really are Katrina people.
And one more thing...don't tell us to move, ain't gonna happen.
Posted by JunkyardDawg (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if you are going to use your gun in the dark, at least hold a flashlight...like they do on 24.
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone broke the back glass out of a car, right in the same trailer park that I live in, and stole $3000.00! I am not a subscriber to the newspaper, so I don't get the full contents. I just read what I can from the online version. Did I miss something...or is it written that "all guns should be treated as if LOADED, wether loaded or not."? I know a few things that burglars look for when they want to brake into a house. In simple terms, "does it look as if anyone is at home?" e.g. no vehicle, lights on throughout the home, and very dark outside the home.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Place a chair in a position where if a thief wants to break in they cannot see if someone is sitting in the chair or not, with a tv left on throughout the night. The thief will have to decide if there is someone sitting there with a loaded gun or not. It will cost only pennies for this safe guard and it works.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
of subject;;;; Has anyone else ever wished for a comment section on Records or is it just me?
Posted by SecretSquirrel (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's naive to believe that Katrina evacuees are the reason for the crime surge. How professional do you think you have to be to break in a house? Criminals aren't professional at anything, if they were, they wouldn't be criminals. The crime rate is perpetuated by a surge in drug use in Natchez. Crime has been up in the lower income areas of the town for years, PRE Katrina. The only reason that some people are taking notice of it now, is because the criminals have made such a habit of burglarizing their own neighborhoods that the police patrol almost exclusively those areas. They knew they are being watched, so they rob areas where they aren't being watched, where no one will suspect it. How professional do you have to be to break into a car left unlocked, with keys, cell phones, and computers inside?
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We should be cautious about telling our remedies because the thieves are probably reading them!
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I got it! Let's all get Pitt Bulls and keep em inside and paper train them. Don't let em out that way the criminals don't know you have a Pitt Bull and if they break in, well we all know what Pitt Bulls are capable of! Every house needs to be equipped with a Pitt Bull. Raised right, these dogs are very loyal and very protective of their territory and family.
Ok so go ahead and blast me.... just some commic relief...
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dogs are great idea, but you have to have take on the responsabily of owning a dog. We shouldn't put a poor dog in our yard just for protection. Dogs need alot of attention. Stopping crimes are one thing but we don't want to read about all these dogs being abused & starved.
((LdyBreez)) I understand where you are coming from & I'm not blasting you but using Pit Bulls is only adding to the problem.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
destiny they'd really be in trouble if they put a comment section for the arrest records. ppl would have a field day and they'd be getting rid of comments all day long.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone tried to steal a pittbull from a friend of mine the other night.
The pitt bull was in his back yard, my friend went outside a african american male was at the fence with a stek trying to steal the sweet, calm pitt.
Posted by magnolia (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be GREAT to take a course in gun safety. Please advise where this is available. I have searched for the past several months for a local instructor. According to local sporting goods stores , there is no program in this area. Please advise!
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Use guns with caution, awareness"
I will. Then after I shoot, I will ask, "are you dead yet?"
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe the sheriff will provide a safety course if asked.
Sheriff O'ferrill taught me how to shoot a gun a few years ago.
BUT, I am still scared to shoot it,
I WILL, but only if I seriously feel like my life is in iminent danger.
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Use guns with caution, awareness"
I will. Then after I shoot, I will ask, "are you dead yet?"
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by DahlingILuvUButGiveMeParkAve (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where can we buy Tasers in Natchez?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just saw a sign I'm going to order:
"Trespassers will be shot.
Survivors will lbe shot again."
Gotta love it!
Did you see the article yesterday, I think, about the woman in Seattle who gives Taser parties rather than Tupperware?
Posted by DahlingILuvUButGiveMeParkAve (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, I saw the article about the women who sell Tasers like Tupperware. If somebody sells Tasers in Natchez, they will make a fortune.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a hair dresser at The Mane Event that sells them, a guy bought one from her for my daughter. I dont know her name though.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
^^^^The taser was bought for her *My daughter) in 2004.
Not sure if the lady still sells them and of course my daughter has lost hers.
She is looking hard for it now though!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny story I just thought about. Several years ago Curves held a womans self defense class taught by two police officers. They taught us the "sing" principal - solar plexus with the elbow, instep with heel of your foot, nose with the heel of your hand, and groin area. Well several weeks ago my husband thought he was going to scare me by jumping out at me unexpectedly, and instead he got the surprise. Fortunately I heard my daughter yelling "Its Dad" before I got to the nose. I couldn't believe that I actually remembered all that and it came instinctively. I think the police should offer these classes again, through all the health clubs.
Posted by DahlingILuvUButGiveMeParkAve (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL Freedom.....by the way I posted some safety tips in the comments section of the article, "Homeowners Can Beat Anxiety".......
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on January 7, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard that one of the Natchez Markets was robbed on Saturday night. Anything about that in the paper yet? I just read what is on the internet.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on January 7, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
where did you find it racehorse?
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