'Firemen Should Fight Fire, Not Crime,' SAF Tells San Francisco Mayor

[Drizzt]

'Firemen Should Fight Fire, Not Crime,' SAF Tells San Francisco Mayor

3/10/2005 2:10:00 PM


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To: Metro Desk, Legal Reporter

Contact: Alan Gottlieb of Second Amendment Foundation, 425-454-7012; Web: http://www.saf.org

BELLEVUE, Wash., March 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) today condemned a suggestion by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom that firemen be posted on street corners in violent neighborhoods, at the same time five city supervisors are pushing an initiative to disarm the city's law abiding citizens.

"Firemen are supposed to fight fires, not crime," said SAF Founder Alan M. Gottlieb. "Yet here's Mayor Newsom, quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, suggesting that fire trucks and their crews could be detailed to high crime areas as some sort of deterrent. The initiative to ban handguns in San Francisco is stupid, but this idea is just plain crazy."

San Franciscans are being asked to approve a measure this fall that would ban possession of handguns in the city. If approved, handgun owners would be required to turn their firearms in to police. Lining up against the initiative are gun rights organizations, including the Pink Pistols, a group of gay firearms owners. SAF sued to overturn an earlier San Francisco gun ban in 1982, and has hinted it will go back to court if this ban passes.

"Mayor Newsom's concerns about violent crime are not misplaced, but his solution completely misses the target," Gottlieb observed. "If he is concerned about citizens having to live in dangerous neighborhoods, he should immediately, and publicly, renounce this gun-grabbing initiative. You do not protect citizens from crime by disarming them and placing unarmed firemen in harm's way. You fight crime by allowing people the means to protect themselves.

"San Francisco firefighters are courageous public servants," Gottlieb noted. "The city asks a great deal of these dedicated men and women. They routinely risk their lives in dangerous situations. But their specialty is putting out fires, not controlling the city's free fire zones.

"Disarming law-abiding citizens will not make those neighborhoods safer," Gottlieb concluded. "It will only make those neighborhoods, and every other part of the city, a risk-free working environment for the violent thugs who seem to have the run of the place, while honest citizens are being asked to give up their means of self-defense and live in fear."

The Second Amendment Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, Conn.; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers & an amicus brief & fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=44173

 

[standingbear]

Im confused...is it not in everyones favor to deter or fight crime?

In other words, If Im out cleaning up my yard and a guy is beating up his family in the back yard next door, do you think Im going to call the police and sit and wait while I watch the carnage until the police get there?


sure ban all the guns in the city and open the "FLOODGATES" (there I used the same termanology as those nitwit antigunners..ha!) so the punks can come right in.

 

[nico]

Standingbear, normal people don't have the supernatural training, extreme intellect, or right to try to enforce the law in such complicated situations as a person beating up his family. Just call the police and be a good witness and maybe, if he did something wrong, the guy will have to pay a fine or something.

About the article: Trying to use firemen as a crime deterrent makes about as much sense as sending patrolmen to put out building fires.

 

[Preacherman]

Next SF headline: "Criminals sentenced to community service as firefighters".

 

[critter]

Do Californians elect idiots or do they suddenly become idiots after being elected?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Do Californians elect idiots or do they suddenly become idiots after being elected?

Yes.

 

[nico]

They select idiots who then become stupider upon entering office.

 

[beerslurpy]

If I remember correctly, they have to be stupid to be elected, they become corrupt afterwards.

Im not saying florida is perfect, but at least they dont spend money like drunken sailors.

 

[444]

There is a lot of union bashing that goes on with this board. I find it offensive, but that is beside the point.
The SF firefighters and the SF police officers are members of unions. For this reason, they are going to be able to fight this and have some hope of influencing the outcome.

 

[Standing Wolf]

There is a lot of union bashing that goes on with this board. I find it offensive...

I had to join unions several times in my younger days. I got ripped off and had my intelligence insulted every time. Unions heavily back the leftist extremists of the Democratic (sic) party.

If it sports a union label, I leave it on the shelf.

 

[Bear Gulch]

Should the police now put out fire? BTW as a deputy (years ago ) I have put out fires. But this is just more social engineering frow SF. Those geologists keep promising the SF will end up under water. I, for one, cannot wait!

 

[molonlabe]

I propose a compromise. The supervisors should stand on the corners of violent neighborhoods and the Firemen should supervise the city.


Does this make me eligible for office in SF???

 

[MDHunter]

You Don't Qualify.....

MolonLabe,

You're making too much good sense......therefore, you have exempted yourself from candidacy for public office! I like your suggestion though.....you should send a letter to the editor!

Michael

 

[CarbineKid]

Well what will a fireman do if he sees a crime. Im guessing the same thing anyone else whould do, use a cell phone/radio and call the cops. On a side note could you imagine a tactical crimestopping fireman. He wears his raincoat and helmet with an axe in hand. He uses his dalmation as a guard dog, and slides down the pole into action. He then shouts "okay cheif lets hose em down"....woooosh.