One more reason to own guns and carry concealed

[leadcounsel]

According to the June 11 Stars and Stripes, in an article titled "US rethinks habits as gas passes $4 mark (per gallon)," police cruisers are being kept closer to the station or curbed. Because of less patrols, this will increase response times to emergencies.

Yet another reason that Americans need to be aware of how to secure their own safety and not rely on law enforcement - which readily admits to having no responsibility for personal safety of citizens.

 

[Whatsit]

I don't know where this is supposed to be occurring, but it certainly isn't here. I see the po-po cruising around as much if not more so than usual.

 

[moooose102]

well, it makes sense. the police are a government agency, and have a budget. NO ONE could have forseen the astronamical gas price increase, so how could they have budgeted for it. so in order for them to stay in their budget, they will almost HAVE to cut patrols, to keep the real emergency services that the NEED to provide. i did not think about that. so thanks for the heads up on it!

 

[Starship1st]

I think that cities will rethink about putting cops on a neighborhood foot patrol and expand bikeing?

 

[romma]

It is already happening in my City. They had a big news story on the local station here.

 

[Ske1etor]

We still have a couple of Helo's flying around in circles during all hours of the night but our Parish (County) Sheriffs Office is one of the highest funded SO's in the state so...

 

[sacp81170a]

At my department we've already started some cost cutting measures, like idling as little as possible. Some of the larger towns around us are considering going back to two officers per car for some shifts. I actually think that's a good idea. Another thing I've noticed is that as gas gets more expensive, people are gradually starting to change their driving habits, not driving as fast and being much more conservative on the throttle to get better mileage. I wonder how much this will impact city revenues?

 

[John828]

I've seen more than a few cruisers sitting under a shade tree in the parking lot where I work. Our lot is just off a major thoroughfare and a block from a highway interchange. I just assumed they were told to park for a period during their shift.

That being said, I disagree somewhat with the premise of the OP. We always needed to carry whether the streets are heavily patrolled or not. And the increased costs of living will only cause an increase in criminal activity whether there is an increased or decreased level of police presence.

Situational awareness is still the key and protects more folks than lead and steel.

 

[WSM MAGNUM]

Here in my state of Maryland, I would be surprised if they cut down on cruisers running around. Maryand does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. So, the Democrats in this state will just tax us more.

 

[divemedic]

We are looking at a number of measures in our city. Including reducing response levels, not leaving the vehicles running while on scene, and a lot of other ideas, some of which impact our level of service.

 

[WC145]

Here in Maine LE agencies are definitely feeling the pain and responding to the high cost of fuel. The Warden Service is limiting daily patrol miles, other agencies are "encouraging" officers to be more judicious in their use of patrol vehicles (less idling, more radar vs patrol, etc), and agencies that used to allow officers to use their vehicles for non-duty errands have put an end to that benefit.

 

[MinnMooney]

Text from the original poster :

Yet another reason that Americans need to be aware of how to secure their own safety and not rely on law enforcement

from John828 (post #8) :

I disagree somewhat with the premise of the OP. We always needed to carry whether the streets are heavily patrolled or not.

John, There's no reason to "somewhat disagree" with the original post. He isn't saying that there is now a reason or even that there is a better reason. He simply - and correctly - stated that this is "yet another reason".

I love the poster/advertisment that was in a thread here on THR about a week ago. It showed a woman cowering on the floor of her bedroom, holding her little child. She had a phone in her hand. There was a BG holding a huge knife walking toward her. The caption is what is being said on the other end of the phone line : "911 - Please hold."

Yes - We need to protect ourselves. As leadcounsil says "Yet another reason that Americans need to be aware of how to secure their own safety and not rely on law enforcement "

 

[Eric F]

I know in my city there are far more bicycle patrols now, I also see more motorcycles year round and even started seeing horse patrols, in my residential area, Kinda cool if you ask me. Where less patrols due to cost are occuring are the smaller towns and cities where there is far less tax base to afford motor patrols.

 

[John828]

MinnMooney, thanks for pointing that out. You are correct.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

About 2 years ago the state of FL stopped Child Protective Services in Miami from doing inspections claiming fuel cost too much. A Judge kicked that idea to the curb, but it shows you how much they really care about the children.

 

[Mainsail]

One more reason to own guns and carry [strike]concealed[/strike]

Not everyone carries concealed.

 

[Rugerlvr]

All I know, is I bought locking gas caps for my cars. I think gas siphoning is going to happen.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I don't know where this is supposed to be occurring, but it certainly isn't here. I see the po-po cruising around as much if not more so than usual.

This was a front page story in my local newspaper yesterday. And I knew from contacts in the state police that the governor had ordered a cutback in gasoline usage over a month ago.

It's for real.

 

[John828]

I think gas siphoning is going to happen

going to? Already has begun. A guy was arrested here in Little Rock, AR with four five gallon containers and a length of garden hose.

I'd say all kinds of "petty" crimes are and will continue to be on the rise in the next few years. Also more of the "rage" phenomenons--road rage, gas pump rage, check out line rage, forum rage, etc. Without being guided by a set of principles or having everything handed to you on a silver platter, people are going to get loonier and loonier.

 

[highfive]

same here a guy was arrested siphoning a car 2 streets down. my cars they sleep inside the garage. gas and bullets prices going up, means fewer range trips :banghead:

 

[leadcounsel]

Siphoning!!!

No joke, I recently read that criminals are, get this, DRILLING HOLES IN GAS TANKS to drain fuel. YUP, they are drilling holes. Locking gas caps may not be enough.

 

[Rugerlvr]

Yeah, I read about cut gas lines, and holes drilled in tanks. Not much I can do to stop that, as I can't park both my vehicles in my garage.

 

[divemedic]

Many newer vehicles have anti-siphon valves in the tanks. We are seeing a lot of cars with holes in their tanks, because the thieves are punching holes in them.

 

[jackstinson]

No surprise about drilling holes in gas tanks. Around my city (all over the USA really), thieves have been using battery powered reciprocal saws to slice out catalytic converters in 60 seconds for the scrap due to the soaring value of precious metals. Bottom line is crooks steal stuff.
I lock my vehicles in my garage.
As for Police? My city's force is looking to add more horse and bicycle patrols. One nearby town uses a golf cart type vehicle for normal town patrols now. I'm all for putting more LEO's on street foot patrol! Where they get to know the neighborhood and what is really happening there.
Heck, even I walk a lot more than I used to. Gas is expensive! I only go to the range after work now, since my work location already puts me 3/4 of the distance to the range. I also shoot even more than I used to in my own basement to keep costs down.
Jack

 

[nomadboi]

Seattle's cutting back on patrol, and King County S.O is having to cut 70-some deputy positions to balance their budget.

While I think the speed of things took us all by surprise, folks have known for a while now that oil is going to keep getting more expensive, as the remaining reserves are increasingly the ones that are harder to get to. Sad that our government isn't prepared for that, but then, that could be said of most of us struggling to stay within our budgets these days.