They Shootin’

The New Year is here and Detroit is bringing it in with a bang and with sparks. Gun sparks that is! Not sure if you all heard, but Obie Trice (a rapper) was shot on one of the local expressways, but he’s all right! Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know a rapper being shot isn’t news these days, so feel free to say “And”! However, the issue isn’t really about that idiot, it’s more about the continuing senseless violence that has already emerged in my beloved city! Yeah, some shootings have happened in the suburbs, but with Detroit being the closest city with any kind of name recognition, the media labels those incidents as happening in Detroit as well.

In 2005, Detroit's 374 homicides amounted to more than 40 murders for every 100,000 residents. Baltimore had a similar murder rate, and New Orleans in the last few years has outpaced Detroit. But most larger cities had significantly lower murder rates last year. New York had about 7 murders for every 100,000 residents; Los Angeles had about 13, and Chicago had 15.

It was not even a full 24 hours into the New Year when two women were found shot to death in an alley! At a party thrown at a local hall, a 20 year old fired into a crowd and wound up killing a 27-year-old father. So, while the mayor makes promises of having “pride in the city of Detroit and the community coming together," and making Detroit a place "where children and families grow and flourish in clean, safe neighborhoods that give them access to the world." he must also make a realistic commitment on violent crimes and gun control! Political parties have used empty promises and tired rhetoric to persuade optimistic voters into placing check marks on ballots for politician’s personal agendas. While not all the fault can be placed on politicians, Detroiters must take a more productive and positive role in the very city they swear to love.

Hopefully things will be mild in regards to gun violence or violence on a whole, but being realistic about the situation doesn’t leave much to be optimistic about.

Until next time...