ONE STEPS UP!

A sunny Wednesday to the Tazer Faithful! We offer up a new look for something new!

First, an editorial from today's Times...

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Firearms and schools

ON MONDAY, the first day of classes at Nystrom Elementary in Richmond, bullets suddenly whizzed through the school at lunchtime.

Two rounds shot through a classroom where four students were taking a test. One pierced through a wall and traveled back outside to a playground crammed with students at recess.

Miraculously, none of the schoolchildren or staff were injured. But needless to say, the experience was a traumatic one for everyone involved.

Police say three men in a Champagne-colored Cadillac were chasing another car near the school and shot after it. Instead of hitting their target, the bullets wound up endangering innocent bystanders.

Street shoot-outs happen with alarming regularity in Richmond. Police, city officials and community leaders have been grappling for solutions to the frightening violence.

According the West Contra Unified School District, this is the first time that shots have been fired into a school. It takes the city's violence to a new level. We understand the community's outrage at the unidentified gunmen's blatant disregard for the children inside the school.

But Richmond residents must do more than vent. Someone, somewhere, knows who fired the bullets that easily could have killed an innocent child.

Whoever knows the identity of the shooters must come forward and tell authorities so that the menaces responsible can be arrested. Police are offering a $10,000 reward. We applaud the staff at Nystrom for their handling of the incident.

Principal Wendy Holmes, in her first day on the job, used a megaphone to call all the children inside and got them to safety. After the gunshots, teachers ordered those students already inside to hit the ground.

Quick thinking all around prevented pandemonium, which could have caused people to get hurt. School officials appear to have done everything right. Now, it's time for residents to come forward and do the right thing.

Richmond, as a community, must send a message that it will not tolerate thugs firing guns in the vicinity of a school.

California's Health and Safety Code enhances the criminal penalties for people convicted of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of schools.

The reason is obvious. The activity associated with drug sales places children at risk, be it of using drugs themselves or of falling victim to drug-related violence.

The code should be amended so that the same enhancements apply to anyone who brandishes a firearm near a school.

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The Tazer also congratulates the school staff for their quick thinking, and are glad to point out the silver lining in no casualties. We hope that RPD's efforts and the reward will result in the rapid capture of the involved parties.

Next up, another reaction to the incident, and it's something we at the Tazer have been waiting to hear: a candidate for Mayor of Richmond has actually spoken out...

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2006

"Richmond Mayoral candidate Gary Bell offers proposal to curb violence."

I am saddened and outraged by the shooting incident at Nystrom Elementary School yesterday. I denounce this crime, and pledge that as an individual citizen and candidate for Mayor, that I will be committed to lending every available resource to confront this ongoing issue.

In the days since the Mayor's press conference regarding a special election, there has been silence regarding crime. Absent any comments, the public deserves to know the stance of city officials, but lacking those, they should know the stance of candidates for city offices.

I believe that the time has come for Richmond to consider the idea of a Constitutional, citywide "Gun Free" zone. I am prepared to discuss this and further proposals surrounding this unfortunate incident in an effort to help make our city a safer one.

For more information, visit my website, "GaryBell.org".

The media is welcome to contact me regarding this issue at (510) 612-1835, or by e-mail at "gb926@aol.com". I will be happy to provide further comment and answer any questions that you may have.

Yours in service,
Gary L. Bell

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The Tazer thanks Mr. Bell for that statement, as it certainly gets the ball rolling on discussion. We extend a similar invitation to any and all candidates to speak out about this incident, as well as other policies and thoughts on violent crime. We promise to publish statements of similar form and size, but reserve the right to edit for length.

Our invitation for all to comment freely on the Tazer likewise stands and so long as common sense and sensibilities aren't abused we actually encourage it. Solutions are out there to be found, so bring them here!