A Far Cry...

Welcome to the end of the first month of 2013...that leaves ONLY 334 shopping days until Christmas...!
The Heartland weather today exemplifies the title of today's post...when compared to say the last 2 days.
We're looking at temps that are MUCH lower than yesterday.
Add in a wind-chill factor, and it damn near feels like FIVE DEGREES outside.
Toss in a snow flurry or two to dust the ground a bit, and you just KNOW it's still winter.
Today's high won't get much beyond the low to mid twenties, so dress accordingly, and mind the streets where black ice can occur.
Meanwhile, back at the igloo...
*** first off the line today, the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"There are two types of people; Those who come into a room and say "Well, here I am", and those who come into a room and say "Ah, There you are".

This is attributed to Frederick L. Collins, and amazingly, he does NOT have a WIKI.

In fact, I've been searching for ANY information on him, and all that I COULD find, was that he was publisher for McClure Magazine,and after selling that, became a writer for LIBERTY magazine.

He also wrote more than a few books, including Uncle Sam's Billion Dollar Baby (about Manhattan - 1945), and The FBI in Peace and War (1943).

He also co-authored several works with J. Edgar Hoover, which appeared in Collier's magazine including Hitler's Spies Are Experts, The Man Without Fingerprints, and Beware of Frauds in Uniform.
I can't even find a picture of him...talk about elusive!
Moving on...
*** There was a recent police bust that received little attention, and it should be noted that the person arrested has been a "playa" around Ft. Wayne for a while, so it seems.

His name is Lamont Carpenter, and here's the source story from the local paper:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130130/LOCAL07/301309928/1043/LOCAL07
You had to look hard to see it, because stuff like this gets tossed back on page five!
As you can easily guess, Lamont is NO stranger to the Allen County penal system.
====RAP SHEET====
Lamont Carpenter - male black, 6'3", 205 lbs
===============
02D04-9207-MC-016525 Carpenter, Lamont 07/01/1992
Allen Superior Court 6 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. REC STOLEN PROPERTY
P.C. POSSESSION OF COCAINE
02D04-9209-CM-023254 Carpenter, Lamont 09/10/1992
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided MINOR CONSUMING ALCOHOL
PUBLIC INTOXICATION
02D04-9209-CF-000500 Carpenter, Lamont 09/17/1992
Allen Superior Court 4 CF - Criminal Felony
Decided POSSESSION OF COCAINE
02D04-9304-MC-008914 Carpenter, Lamont 04/14/1993
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. BATTERY
02D04-9309-CM-023614 Carpenter, Lamont 09/22/1993
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided MINOR IN POSS OF ALCOHOL
02D04-9508-IF-012001 Carpenter, Lamont 08/11/1995
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED MAX LAWFUL SPEEDS
FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
02D04-9606-IF-010528 Carpenter, Lamont 06/11/1996
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INFR)
EXPIRED PLATE
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-9608-IF-014970 Carpenter, Lamont 08/26/1996
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INFR)
IMPROPER DISPLAY LIC PLTE
02D04-9711-MC-001756 Carpenter, Lamont 11/10/1997
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. DEALING IN COCAINE/METH
02D04-9711-CF-000675 Carpenter, Lamont 11/14/1997
Allen Superior Court 5 CF - Criminal Felony
Decided POSSESSION OF COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG
02D04-9803-MC-000507 Carpenter, Lamont 03/31/1998
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. DEALING IN COCAINE/METH
02D04-9804-CF-000177 Carpenter, Lamont 04/03/1998
Allen Superior Court 6 CF - Criminal Felony
Decided DEALING IN COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG
02D04-0202-CM-001427 Carpenter, Lamont 02/22/2002
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATING WHILE INTOXICATED (CLASS C)
OPERATING WHILE INTOXICATED (CLASS A)
DRIVING LEFT CENTER
EXCEED RURAL INTRST LIMIT
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-0311-CM-009349 Carpenter, Lamont 11/12/2003
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided BATTERY (A)
02D04-0404-MC-000691 Carpenter, Lamont 04/22/2004
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. POSSESS. MARIJUANA
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0404-FD-000277 Carpenter, Lamont 04/26/2004
Allen Superior Court 4 FD - Class D Felony
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA HASH OIL OR HASHISH
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
02D04-0511-CM-008070 Carpenter, Lamont 11/07/2005
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided DOMESTIC BATTERY
02D04-0511-CM-008518 Carpenter, Lamont 11/28/2005
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided DOMESTIC BATTERY
02D04-0602-CM-000883 Carpenter, Lamont 02/06/2006
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided INVASION OF PRIVACY (A)
CRIMINAL TRESPASS
02C01-0909-FD-000345 Carpenter, Lamont 09/04/2009
Allen Circuit Court FD - Class D Felony
Decided NONSUPPORT OF A DEPENDENT CHILD
02D05-1301-MC-000185 NA
NA CARPENTER, LAMONT 01/30/2013
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal (Citation)
Pending 35-48-4-1(b)(1)/FA: Dealing In Cocaine Or Narcotic Drug - 3 Grams or More
35-48-4-1(b)(1)/FA: Dealing In Cocaine Or Narcotic Drug - 3 Grams or More
35-48-4-1(b)(1)/FA: Dealing In Cocaine Or Narcotic Drug - 3 Grams or More35-48-4-1(b)(1)/FA: Dealing In Cocaine Or Narcotic Drug - 3 Grams or More
35-48-4-1(a)(2)/FA: Dealing In Cocaine Or Narcotic Drug - Possession w/ Intent
35-47-4-5(c)/FB: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon
35-47-2-18(2)/FC: Possession of Handgun w/ Altered Identifying Marks
35-48-4-11/FD: Poss Marij/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia/Synthetic Cannabinoid-Amt Involved/Prior
35-43-4-2(b)/FD: Receiving Stolen Property
====ADDRESSES====
2412 HOBSON RD
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
5040 Madiera APT E
Fort Wayne, IN 46815
5026 Oliver St
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
2508 Southwayne Ave
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
4427 Winston Dr
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
7418 Mill Run Dr
Ft Wayne IN 46835
5002 Hessen Cassel
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
================
Narcs raided an apartment (E) at 5040 Madeira Drive (well, they had lots of places to choose from) this past Tuesday and got a decent haul out of this drug investigation that has been ongoing for several months,say police.

Carpenter's apartment yielded $1415 in cash, 7.6 ounces of MJ, 3.5 ounces of cocaine, and a Glock pistol that was reported STOLEN during a burglary back in 2011.
Charges against Lamont are possession of cocaine, possession of MJ, UNLAWFUL possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm with an OBLITERATED serial number, and four counts of dealing cocaine.
(so, that means with OUR prosecutorial staff, he SHOULD be back on the streets in LESS than a year...AGAIN...right?)
Well, if the FEDS get involved, maybe not THAT soon...lol.
*** And along those lines, there's THIS story about blacks and crime stats (from WPTA).
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/video/Report-Suggests-Indiana-A-Dangerous-Place-For-Blacks-189094571.html
So, Indiana is a DANGEROUS place for BLACKS when it comes to becoming a victim of CRIME...
(I know I wouldn't mind if MY neighbors would move to another state)
NEVER saw THAT one coming...did we?
Not with all the black-on-black crime that occurs with such regularity, right?

But the statistics show the REALITY of generational dependence and a sub-culture that chooses to skirt the law.
The VIOLENCE POLICY CENTER in D.C. is behind this report, which could be touted as a just cause against gun violence.

I would strongly contend that it (once again) is about PEOPLE violence...as in GANG-related or DRUG-related violence.

Guns just happen to be (too) available to these perps through black marketing, straw-purchasing, and especially...THEFT (right, Lamont?).

Naturally, with Chicago SO out of control with gangs, it's a foregone conclusion that guns will enter into the mix, as the weapon of choice to commit homicide.
And THIS story backs THAT up:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130131/NEWS03/301319955/0/SEARCH

A random act of VIOLENCE by a black male...with a gun (that he should never have in the first damn place) shoots into a crowd of teens, killing a girl (Hadiya Pendleton) who performed at the inaugural festivities of "That Guy"...this demonstrates NOT the need for (more) GUN control, but rather a more urgent need for GANG control.

Getting back to INDIANA black homicides, the victim-to-offender relationship is right on track, with EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT of the victims for 2011 being killed by someone they KNEW.
Makes a good case for domestic disputes, doesn't it?
Add in the fact that even though these people know each other, family members and friends are rarely forthcoming with ANY information to assist law-enforcement with arresting the people responsible.
It's all about FEAR.
FEAR is a great equalizer...I've said that before.

It emboldens the cowardly, and quiets the knowledgeable.
And don't think these thugs do NOT know how to EXPLOIT such things.
Street-smarts goes a long way in understanding others, even if these perps didn't graduate high school, or speak using polysyllabic words.
Hopefully, people WILL come to realize that the TRUE culprit here is NOT the weapon, device, or tool used in the commission of a crime...but rather the PERSON (and their behavior) who is doing the deed that warrants control...or as many would want...JUSTICE.
*** Lastly today, I would that everyone who is concerned about this "gun" issue take a look at two of Wayne LaPierre's books:
-- Guns. Crime, and Freedom (1994)
-- Guns, Freedom, and Terrorism (2003)
I have both of these, and they will open your eyes.
Considering the FIRST book was written right AFTER that FIRST "assault gun ban", it is STILL as relevant as it was when first printed.
(if not MORE so)
Granted, the stats are a bit dated now, but it's easy enough to project them forward, or even look them up for yourselves, and see.

What the "drive-by" media will show you is ONLY the events where a gunman opens up on innocents, and NOT cases where a lone (armed) DEFENDER shoots an intruder, or burglar, or rapist, or even a gunman bent on chaos.
When you have to resort to "using" Gabby Giffords as a poster child for gun-control "propaganda", and not the  NYPD officer (Nelson Vergara) that took two bullets and still nailed an armed robber who had shot a citizen, make your "case", that's sad.
Why not bring some SWAT snipers out and let THEM say how they prevent gunmen from killing people?
Why not the woman who shot an intruder FIVE times (to protect her two children) when he broke into her house?
Why not the elderly former marine who killed a burglar on his property?
You have to pay attention to the "tactics" the LEFT will use...the SYMPATHY gig.
The "Anointed One" did it when he "EO'ed" 23 gun-control items with his "human shield" children standing beside him.
PEOPLE are what this is all about...the GOOD ones versus the BAD ones.
And we all need to know who is who in this situation, sort the wheat from the chaff, if we are to make informed choices in our own lives...choices which can very well SAVE our lives.
Yes, it IS "a far cry" from times past, when we didn't have to fret about such things.
But to not be concerned these days, makes us worse off.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.
((And we'll see you next month.))