Drive by shooting at Texas Southern

[AEA]

Well, Perry should be hiding his head in the sand now for more or less allowing this to happen. He and his cronies managed to eliminate all possibility of a solution to this during this session of the Texas Legislature.

He said he would sign a bill for campus carry if it crossed his desk and then the let the fools in the Legislature play games and get nothing done. Then he refused to allow it to be considered (and passed) in the Special Session.

By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Writer Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press Writer – Thu Jul 23, 6:49 am ET

HOUSTON – Gunfire on the Texas Southern University campus wounded six people and scattered the crowd at a community rally, and police on Thursday were investigating whether a gang rivalry was behind the drive-by shooting.

People were gathered at the event that included a Houston rapper's performance when a car drove by and shots sprayed out from the vehicle, school spokeswoman Eva Pickens said, citing witness statements to police. The sound of gunfire made people drop to the pavement of the parking lot where the rally was being held to promote community service and voter registration.

Peter Role, a local music promoter, told the Houston Chronicle he heard what sounded "like the Fourth of July."

"We heard some gunshots and everybody was hitting the ground," Role said.

Six people, including one male student, were being treated for injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, Pickens said.

Campus police believe the violence resulted from a rivalry between two gangs, one from Missouri City, a suburb southwest of Houston, and the other from Fresno, a small town outside Missouri City, she said.

Before the violence, Houston City Councilman Peter Brown and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee made appearances at the event billed as a "family block party," and local rapper Trae the Truth performed songs.

Lucinda Guinn, who's managing Brown's run for mayor in November's election, said she had no details on the shootings, but was dismayed that "an effort for bringing a very positive message to the community" would end in violence.

The rapper's publicist told the Chronicle that he'd left before the shootings.

An e-mail sent to Lee wasn't immediately returned. Her telephone mailbox was full and wouldn't take messages.

Texas Southern is a historically black university in Houston with an enrollment of around 10,000 students.

[joe817]

I really don't think it's fair to point the finger at Perry. He had no control of the Democrats chubbing the issues that are important to us in this past legislative session.

If anyone's to blame, it is us......for NOT voting in the primaries to get our preferred candidate placed on the voting ballot. The time to make our voice be heard is in 2010....when the primaries are held.....not waiting until 2011 to place our vote for the candidate of our choice.

But I feel your pain. And I pray for those innocent students who were gunned down needlessly. This incident should re-kindle the fires and make it blatantly obvious the need for a campus carry bill to be passed.

Thanks for posting AEA!

[casingpoint]

Southern should hire Craig Washington as head of campus security.

[bdickens]

If Campus Carry had been passed, it wouldn't have taken effect until September anyway so it wouldn't have helped here.

[A-R]

I realize this may provoke some spirited responses (and no offense is intended toward the OP), but I think it's a stretch to suggest that allowing CHL on college campuses could have somehow prevented or even contained/lessened this crime. What would a CHL holder do in this situation, fire on the suspect car as it sped away?

Every time we - as gun rights supporters - say "see, a CHL could have stopped that crime" (as if having a CHL makes us all some version of police with super powers) we make ourselves and our argument look a bit ridiculous to the average citizen.

A better argument for our cause, IMHO, is that this incident (and others like it) simply disprove the antis' argument against CHL on campus - that keeping guns off campuses (Gun Free Zones) somehow protects anyone from crime.

[AEA]

If Campus Carry had been passed, it wouldn't have taken effect until September anyway so it wouldn't have helped here.

True, agreed.

But, if it had passed, it would be in place after September and not sometime after 2011 if ever.

[AEA]

I realize this may provoke some spirited responses (and no offense is intended toward the OP), but I think it's a stretch to suggest that allowing CHL on college campuses could have somehow prevented or even contained/lessened this crime. What would a CHL holder do in this situation, fire on the suspect car as it sped away?

Every time we - as gun rights supporters - say "see, a CHL could have stopped that crime" (as if having a CHL makes us all some version of police with super powers) we make ourselves and our argument look a bit ridiculous to the average citizen.

A better argument for our cause, IMHO, is that this incident (and others like it) simply disprove the antis' argument against CHL on campus - that keeping guns off campuses (Gun Free Zones) somehow protects anyone from crime.

Well, first of all there is the deterrent factor. If the perps knew that the Campus was NOT a free killing zone (no weapons), they may have made a different decision on where and when to do their drive by shooting.

Secondly, if I was to happen to be on the Campus when this occurred, you can bet your bottom dollar that I would be returning fire. And I would hope that any other CHL holders present would be doing the same thing. All ya gotta do is hit the driver then take out the rest. May sound far fetched, but at least there is a chance to mitigate the damage to innocent people and take out the BG's.

Just MY opinion, yours may (and obviously does) vary.

[Drewthetexan]

If this was gang related, I'd question whether the risk of a CHL shooting back would be a serious deterrent to initiating the attack - particularly since the rival gang members were more likely to be carrying illegally (and willing to shoot back!) than there being any CHLs in the area.

Gang related or not, I respectfully agree with austinrealtor, this should serve to support that campuses are no safer by making them "gun-free" zones than allowing CHLs to carry on campus.

[DoubleJ]

If this was gang related, I'd question whether the risk of a CHL shooting back would be a serious deterrent to initiating the attack - particularly since the rival gang members were more likely to be carrying illegally (and willing to shoot back!) than there being any CHLs in the area.

that may be, but I think it only applies to this one particular scenario, but the on the whole, the deterrent factor is useful.

[roberts]

Before the violence, Houston City Councilman Peter Brown and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee made appearances at the event billed as a "family block party," and local rapper Trae the Truth performed songs.

Lucinda Guinn, who's managing Brown's run for mayor in November's election, said she had no details on the shootings, but was dismayed that "an effort for bringing a very positive message to the community" would end in violence.

The rapper's publicist told the Chronicle that he'd left before the shootings.

I wonder if the rapper and politicians got tipped off so they could leave before the assault.

[Liberty]

Is it posssible that the mostly white schools of TU and A&M who lobbied heavily against school carry. didn't want the students in Black or lower income students to be able to defend themselves

OK, I know I'm race baiting, but there is just so much of it in the news lately I wanted to get in onto the fun. A lot of our gun restrictions were written to keep minorities disarmed.

[Drewthetexan]

If this was gang related, I'd question whether the risk of a CHL shooting back would be a serious deterrent to initiating the attack - particularly since the rival gang members were more likely to be carrying illegally (and willing to shoot back!) than there being any CHLs in the area.

that may be, but I think it only applies to this one particular scenario, but the on the whole, the deterrent factor is useful.

In this case, yes. Statistics support a general decrease in crime from CHLs running about, so I would not argue with you on the general deterrence. When it comes to sociopaths and gangbangers, I think it'd take a definite show of superior force to deter any violence.

[A-R]

Secondly, if I was to happen to be on the Campus when this occurred, you can bet your bottom dollar that I would be returning fire. And I would hope that any other CHL holders present would be doing the same thing. All ya gotta do is hit the driver then take out the rest. May sound far fetched, but at least there is a chance to mitigate the damage to innocent people and take out the BG's.

Just MY opinion, yours may (and obviously does) vary.

Again, no offense intended. But why would you be returning fire in this situation and not dropping to the pavement with everyone else as quickly as possible? A drive-by shooting is normally just exactly what it sounds like. Car pulls up, cowards open fire briefly, car speeds off. If you had a CHL and were carrying in this situation you would be most likely ...

1) outnumbered - there is usually at least a driver and a shooter, and likely more than one shooter, often with superior firepower (rifles, shotguns, automatics? etc)

2) out-flanked/out-positioned - they're in a vehicle giving them cover and manueverability; meanwhile you're out in the open

3) there are innocent bystanders everywhere - miss that shot at the driver of a moving car and you could hit an innocent across the street

4) standing there (or squatting or even laying prone) and firing back at the car only makes you a target - depending on their superiority in numbers and/or firepower, you're just asking to get shot - and for what? so you can fire back a few shots that have little chance of hitting, much less wounding/stopping, the aggressors? Sure, you might scare them away. But their last shot as the car speeds off will DEFINITELY be aimed in your general direction.

[AEA]

They are not aiming (I am) they are spraying and that is the difference.

[TexasAggie]

Is it posssible that the mostly white schools of TU and A&M who lobbied heavily against school carry. didn't want the students in Black or lower income students to be able to defend themselves

OK, I know I'm race baiting, but there is just so much of it in the news lately I wanted to get in onto the fun. A lot of our gun restrictions were written to keep minorities disarmed.

You're joking, right???