Rick Badie / My Opinion

By Jais

September 8, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

With a full tank of gas, a handgun and two clips of ammunition. Between the illegals, the blacks and whites on either side who wanna ba a gangstah just like ‘em…well…there’s not alot of hope. I have drawn this handgun on marauding thugs near my car 7 times since i bought it, and every one of those was in the city. TBH Rick, it’s not safe to go anywhere beyond the sight of police in downtown unless you’re packing and trained in firearms.

There’s something to be said for a state where the cops will threaten a civilian faster than they will a criminal, and thus I also carry in my glove box current prints of any and all laws regarding firearms and their use as a defensive tool, as well as every law regarding the repulsion of force by the use of force.

It amazes me that, given this states notorious reputation for crime, the police here still have problems with a registered gun owner taking it around with him EVEN WHEN NEW LAWS WERE JUST PASSED opening up even more legal areas to carry my weapon, like parks, restaurants, clubs and spaces that serve alchohol. I had an officer from duluth and another from dekalb both try and run me in on weapons charges, only to find my folder of laws waiting; sections dog-eared and highlighted. Let me tell you what…the only thing a cop hates worse than his job is a civilian who won’t be leaned on and won’t back down. Both of these asswipes thought they were super-tough until they realized they were looking at a veteran and didn’t have a hope of prosecuting it. With little more thought or remarks, both men opted to shut up right there, hand me my things back and go about their way.

you know, it’s a damn shame what this place has become. Cops as dangerous to civilians as the criminals we ask them to catch…corrupt politicians squandering our taxes on stadiums we don’t need, robbing us blind behind closed doors, elections and city meetings that are held at secret locations at odd times so the citizens have the least say in city affairs…whole police departments ignoring dangerous, publicly drunk illegals prowling our business parking lots day and night…it’s enough to make an honest man sick.

LT5000- any additions? What’s new in the illegal alien news. How about that guy in l’ville? you think maybe (lol) that it was mrs butterworth who shot him? I got ten bucks that says the shooter’s name was something like “Julio Gustavo Hernandez-Rodruiguez” and he’s an illegal, and the man he shot was an illegal, and the cops not cleaning them up claiming “it’s not our problem” was illegal, too.

By Gwinnett Commuter

September 8, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

I go into the city of Atlanta five days a week and sometimes on the weekends. I work downtown and many times on the weekends, we travel downtown to shop or attend concerts, shows, festivals, etc.

Downtown is just booming. There are so many condos being built that have brought residents into the area and it’s so cool to see so many people walking the streets at night, walking their dogs, etc. Because of the people moving in, we are also seeing more restaurants opening up, retail and grocery stores too. My favorite area though is Fairlie-Poplar. So nice to walk through there at lunchtime with all of the sidewalk cafes. I’m really encouraged at what I see happening in that area and even up and down Ponce De Leon. The city is most definitely gentrifying at this point in time.

Right now, the opposite is happening in the burbs where I live. People with higher incomes, even those with children, are moving inside the Perimeter or further out. The “inner ring” suburbs of Atlanta are emptying out as far as upper middle class goes. Reasons? The traffic here has become as bad, if not worse, than traffic inside the Perimeter, our schools are failing, crime rates here are higher or equal to those of Atlanta, cheaply built and crammed together starter housing has lost it’s appeal and much of the natural rural beauty is gone.

As our property values continue to stagnate or fall, we are seeing more lower income people moving into our area because the homes here are affordable. You could theorize that it’s a natural real estate cycle, but I don’t see Cobb or North Fulton experiencing it nearly as dramatically as Gwinnett is. Basically, our leaders, in just the space of 20 years, have “killed the goose that laid the golden egg” with their shortsighted and self-enriching policies. In my opinion, at this point in time, Gwinnett could actually take some pointers from the City of Atlanta.

By Reality

September 8, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Jais, drop the superior attitude and the overblown hype and maybe you will enjoy living again. Peace and have a good day.

By Tommy

September 8, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

I’m not real sure where Jais goes in downtown Atlanta. Jais, please let us know so we can avoid those areas.

I’ve lived in metro Atlanta for 24 years, been to downtown numerous times and have never felt the need to have a handgun on my hip.

Either I’m very lucky or I am going to the safer parts of Atlanta?

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

When I worked 2 blocks from the capitol (1990-2001) it was ok and relatively safe from 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

The times I was there earlier or later, or on a weekend day, it was very initimidating…and I don’t scare easily.

Now the one time that I went to Underground after work, to do a little Christmas shopping, was something I’ll never forget. Keep in mind that during the winter, it gets dark earlier. Well, I had forgotten that little tidbit. So about 6:30, I came out near Five Points, to a totally opposite atmosphere than during daytime. My first thought was oh sh&@ how do I get out of this. So I knew my bus stopped about 4 blocks away from there, headed that way and was met by barrells of fire oo the sidewalks right in front of stores with the security safet gates/bars pulled tighly closed. Funny, I thought, I’d never even noticed those before. It looked like something out of the movies where they show the dangerous areas in NYC, with street bums, people in cardboard boxes, people covering themselves with newspapers and people noticing me and walking out and touching me as I walked by trying to figure out exactly which I should do, run, walk and meet their eyes, walk and meet their eyes and nod my head or say hello, or just walk and look straight ahead. Whichever I chose, must’ve been the right one, because I did make it out of there.

Now right across from where I worked, if you came through in between the two buildings on a weekend, you were as likely as not to step in human excrement.

On a good day, waiting on the bus, it was commonplace to be approached by someone asking for money.

Yes there’s some good places downtown, as well as bad places. It’s probably all about what’s tolerated/allowed. There were new condos built on top of a new Kroger right down the street from Underground. I used to walk to that Kroger a few times a week. Then one day it was just gone. They always had plenty of customers and it sure was handy to go there. Not sure why they closed, but it wasn’t from lack of business.

I used to go to Hill Street to pump gas and on a particularly rich day, get a steak biscuit from Ms. Winners. Usually without incident, but always a little intimidating.

I’m not scared to go to a Braves game. But I know what lies beyond the parking lot.

It’s mostly ok to venture into Atlanta as long as you’re prepared and aware. If you go in with a touristy outlook and think you’re just in for a night on the town, bright lights and limo-watching…do yourself a favor and just stay home.

All in all…coolness, attractions and revitilization efforts considered (for Atlanta)…I’ll still choose Gwinnett to live.

Yesterday my daughter and I went to Stonecrest Mall. Afterward we were just going to hit the McDonalds drive-thru. “Were” being the keyword here. After seeing about 14 cars in line, and a packed full parking lot…we opted out. Decided on Krystals instead. So there we were sitting in a pretty cool looking dining area, having encountered really pleasant workers at the Krystals…eating and conversing, when my kid asks “what county are we in?” I looked out the window and thought to myself how obvious it was, just in appearances. So I told her to look out the window and see if she could tell.

I went ahead and let her off the hook and told her we were in Dekalb but that usually you can just look out and know what county you’re in, based on how the streets, signs, bridges and building structes look.

Each county has a distinct look. Ever noticed that?

P.S. Tommy, your answer is probably “both”. Lucky and going to the safer areas.

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Oh and by the way, yesterday at the mall, we passed one of the little kiosk’s with tshirts that showed Obama. Above his picture it said “I have a dream” and below is picture it said “And now it’s a reality”.

He’s now being treates as a human rights activist, receiving unmerited favor based soley on the color of his skin. Quite frankly, he could say anything and it would still be ok with his followers. I liken him to the Pied Piper…I’m just not certain exactly who all will end up in the river. Best guess…everyone.

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Paco, you can always take the Mexican taxi. No shortage of those.

By Threadkiller

September 8, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

I found this very cool website for Gwinnett County. Take a look at it, it’s an eye opener! I never suspected that may DUI’s in our county! http://www.scangwinnett.com/mugshots/

By LT5000

September 8, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

The only reason Atlanta is too busy to hate, is because they are too busy robbing you.

I hope somebody confiscated Blubbering Badie’s shoelaces and belt this morning.

Blowbama is behind in the polls and is now trying to convice us that he once considered joining the White Man’s Army.

By the way, if anybody is interested, here is GCDC breakdown.

Total Male Inmates: 2450
Total Black Male Inmates: 1001
Total White Male Inmates: 1400
Total Hispanic Male Inmates: 678
Total Other Race Male Inmates: 49

Now you may notice the math does not add up to 2450, that’s because the White Male inmates is comprised of the Hispanic + Caucasian inmates.

If you subtract the 678 from the 1400 “White male” inmates, there are 722 Caucasian males in GCDC.

However….

White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2006 52.5%

Black persons, percent, 2006 (a) 20.4%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2006 (b) 17.1%

Asian persons, percent, 2006 (a) 9.2%

Anything statistically skewed coming out of these numbers?

http://www.gwinnettcountysheriff.com/asp/JailstatsRaces.asp

The Facts, brought to you by LT5000

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

The 678 is included in the 1400, then the math adds up to 2450. I’ve read that hispanics are called white, but I don’t know why.

I responded to threadkiller that the mughsots on scangwinnett are imported from Gwinnett Sheriff’s Dept site, but my comment didn’t come through. Just wanted to make sure the dept got the credit where credit was due. Dekalb also has their docket book online.

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

ah, found it:

While Hispanic is considered an ethnic “group”, it is not considered a racial group.

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

The numbers changed since you posted. Live system, constantly changing. Very informative.

By LT5000

September 8, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

Sorry about my previous post.

The second set of numbers is the Racial demographics of Gwinnett County. Just for comparison to the inmate statistics.

Basically, Caucasions (52.5% of Gwinnett Co.) only account for 30% of the inmates, i.e. crimes committed.

LT5000

By Rage Against The Machine

September 8, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

Jais I really hope I get to meet you before I retire. I think that you are all mouth ( A true internet badazz). Most prior service Military folks that I know don’t present them selves as you do. You know, obnoxious. (In a suburban whiteboy wannabe gangzta sort of way) I’m betting that you are a 20 year old who works at subway and drives a 92 Honda Accord “Tuner”.(Eat Fresh!!) Any way.

I’m not feeling the whole “I Pulled my chrome on marauding thugs 7 times in Atlanta” thing. The law of averages would dictate that somewhere in the seven opportunities for gun play, someone would be shot. And my money is on the marauding thugs. Me thinks Jais may be fabricating just a trifle bit.

After reading several of your posts, the central theme seems to be that Jais hates PoPo. Especially Duluth P.D. And I can assure you friend they probably hate you back. And ss for you “sticking it to the man” with the Duluth and GCPD officers and your handgun nonsense. Please. Gwinnett Law Enfocement Officers deal with trolls like you every day. It’s not even fun any more. I take that back. Yes it is.

Please take care and know that I mean no disrespect. And I’ll have six inch turkey and bacon. No onions.

By Stone

September 8, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

“Rage”- man that was just plain funny.

By NOWICUNVME

September 8, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this

Well I’m fairly new to the “ATL” and I enjoy the ambiance, the comraderie and the diversity. Reminds me of NYC. I only go for special occasions and when out of state friends and relatives visit. I like living on the “outskirts” of Atlanta though, not too much of the hustle and bustle. I prefer living in a more suburban type setting which means sooner or later I might have to move out of Gwinnett, not only because of obvious racism and bigotry but because of the building building building and taking away all the trees and pine barrens.

BTW, Rage Against the Machine, You are absolutely right. Jais is a straight up punk. A nerdy nobody who was picked on in high school. Last one left standing in gym because he was geeky and couldnt play sports to save his life. Has napoleon syndrome which means he’s a small little man with something to prove, which at least gives him an excuse for lacking in the brain department. After his last posting on the “ruckus over race a sorry distraction” where the comments were soooo off handed and sounded like he was ranting at a “kkk” meeting, Mr. Badie had to remove them from the blog. Yes, a cowardly, feeble minded, insignificant nobody who given the chance to prove he was anything but, would probably run away like a the scared, all talk mouth that he is.

By Airborne

September 8, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

Jais,a real man does’nt need to carry a gun.I’m from “Philly” in fact South Philly,and i never carried a gun for protection.Yes i’m a Viet Nam veteran,who served with Charlie Co.1st Brigade 101st Airborne(Screaming Eagles)1965-1966,and during that time i learned not to go where it’s not safe,only if you’re ordered to do so,so why are you in a neighborhood that you know is not safe.Are you looking for the chance to use your weapon to prove a point,or are you just blowing air.You have no idea of what it’s like to shoot someone.If the thrill of carry a weapon and trying to make police officers look bad,man you need to grow up,and if you supposedly drew down on 7 people and you’re a veteran,why don’t you re-enlist and get paid to draw down and fire your weapon.You’re just an unhappy angry always in the wrong place wanna be.Don’t look for trouble and it won’t find you.Respect the police,just because you had a few laws in your glove compartment,does’nt mean you’re an atty.In my home you probably would’ve got beat down for being arrogant.Don’t jump, if you don’t know how deep the water is.

By Jais

September 8, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

LOl dude are you stupid? Yes? Thought so. Yes I have drawn that pistol seven times. It was in dekalb every time. And no, I must go out that way every so often to do business with my wholesaler.

Who are you to tell me what happened/didn’t happen/what I am? The fact is that if you were to approach my vehicle in the dark, that .40 is coming out and orders will be barked. Keep pushing beyond that point and yes, there will be gunplay. The fact is the aforementioned thugs either had no guns or were typically too scared to progress beyond words because they know it isn’t a fake or a replica. And yes, one of those instances included a warning shot. No I did’t bother calling the cops.

Rage- anytime you’re ready sunshine. Fact is I have much more training than you and keep ut active and am much younger and more fit. My eyes are sharper, so is my aim. Just stfu as far as balking at what I say, you have 0 argument.

Just because some of you people are too timid to protect yourselves or stand your ground does not mean I am. Maybe it’s your deal to lay there, give them your wallet, get raped or some other nonsense. It’s not mine and criminals who try end up with holes that didn’t come standard. Far as the police…you tell me, cop. You tell me. Mostly, the only thing I’ve seen out of a cop in this state is threatening citizens to do whatever it is they want you to do. I’ve never once seen a man arrested for anything outside a traffic stop because cops are too wimpy in this state to do their jobs.

Illegal immigrants scare cops here because they claim “They don’t exist”. Cops tend to stay away from the areas they frequent because they don’t want to deal with criminals. In any backward state like this I’ll take my gun over your senseless drivel anyhow, sheep. You just follow the flock to the cliffs, I’ll be watching safely from right here. This area is a warzone after dark and I don;t know what country you live in but this one’s a cesspool of illegals and criminals.

as far as you? sht son, you’re easy. Don’t come at me with your empty intimidation. If you were right in front of me I would probably be less intimidated than I am now, which is 0%.

By Jais

September 8, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

Another thing- airborne, the bullsht you say…i served not one tour but two in iraq. And you will be pleasantly surprised to know that yes, I didn’t shoot one man. I shot five. And I really couldn’t care less what version of hell I sent them to, I just saw the things they did and felt at easy about it. My comments to the c/o were: “Well, least a dog gets a meal out of it.”

you seem to think you got it all pegged down on a blog, huh. Wrong. And yes you do need a gun, you can;t fight off but one man unarmed, and I promise if they are of the intent, you know as well as I that you wouldn’t last ten seconds if he flips out a folding knife. You’re done. You and anyone else. If you were really airborne, you would know that. But you aren’t.

It kills me how you stupid asses posture and try to be precious. And you really are, pops. You’re precious. OH BY THE WAY where did you train basic at? what branch and company?

By Twynn

September 8, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

I am precious.

By Rage Against The Machine

September 8, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this

Two tours in Iraq my butt. People who have actually been forced to take a life don’t brag about it. Ever. My Airborne brother caught on immeditely. If you were the warrior you think you are you would either be A: Career Military B: Career Law Enforcement or Federal Service( However I really don’t think you’d pass the Psychological.) or C: Career Firefighter ( There’s that pesky psychological thingy again.).

Oh and who on earth fires a warning shot? You either is or you aint. And I’m sorry pal people who posess the amount of training, experience, and innate superhuman abilities that you have that you profess to have, are highly sought after commodities….. Or at least don’t work at Subway. Now go fix my sandwich boy!

11BP2 19DP2 Class 501 Airborne Hooah

By Conservative Milf

September 8, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this

Rage that was way out of line. You don’t know if Jais did or did not serve our great contry. In fact you don,t know anything about him at all. Why do you assume that he is lying about his experiences? A real man protects himself and his family. With a gun or a knife or what ever he has to carry. With all the gangs and illegal aliens pouring into the state we need more people like Jais to step up and be a man. I’m new to this board but I have been lurking for quite some time. I also know what is going on in Gwinnett. And don’t get me started on the cops. You are a cop arent you Rage? With your shiny badge and your stupid fake Oakleys. I read one of you posts that said you are a 22 year veteran Law enforcement Officer,Professional Firefighter, and SWAT Team member. Sounds like someone’s attempting to compensate for some shall we say short comings. Lay off Jais he may be the only real man left in this God forsaken County.

By Happy Bunny

September 8, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

I go to Atlanta quite regularly. Especially The Highlands and Little Five Points areas. Great food and excellent music. Pride 2008 absolutely rocked! I met the absolute love of my life there. As far as being frightened of the violence. I’ve never had a problem. Most people in the city are friendly and open minded. It’s the suburbs that are the real problems. No Culture and zero tolerance for anything not absolutely straight and I dare say conservative.

As far as the current debate between the two manly men. (Testosterone poisoning can be hazardous to your health.) I Hate guns. It’s a proven fact that guns kill people. I even hate people who have guns. The G.R.N.B.S. (Gwinnett Red Neck Breeders Society) have guns and they are afraid to go south of 285. Idiots! How’s that George Bush thing working out for ya. Come January things are going to change for the better. Atlanta will be the new southern hub for culture and true diversity. Until then stay away.

By Rage Against The Machine

September 8, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

Actually I prefer fake Ray Bans. And I would absolutely love to have the amount of testosterone that would be considered lethal. Or at least threatening.

By NOWICUNVME

September 9, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it, but I just can’t hold it in. Jais is a liar. He has not served any tours in Iraq. He is not in the service at all and has not shot anything off but his mouth. If you listen to the garbage that he spews you would realize that had he been in the military, he would not be racist and bigoted in his views because he would have had plenty of military brothers of all ethnicities and he wouldnt have a hatred of races, only hatred of the bad and uncivil things that people do. Make no mistake about it, we ALL feel that way except its not based on race but on principal. It is true, had Jais shot “not one but 5 people” he would not be boasting and bragging about it at all. So so sad when you have to perpetrate the fraud to try and be something that you are not.

By Tar and feathered

September 9, 2008 4:05 AM | Link to this

Make that three of us who thinks Jais is a liar. No way in hell he served in the military, let alone Iraq. ‘Just racist scum trying to be something he’s not.

By Jais is a racist

September 9, 2008 6:37 AM | Link to this

Consider the source, then decide if it is credible.

By Rage - Lay off the Bacon

September 9, 2008 6:42 AM | Link to this

That stuff’ll kill you.

Milf? I doubt it.

By Stone

September 9, 2008 7:20 AM | Link to this

Jais in the military? I think not. They’d boot that racist piece of trash out in a second. Too funny picturing him around all those minority soldiers spewing his hate. What a wannabe, trying to front as a member of the military. Sad. Funny.

By chuck allison

September 9, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

We never go into downtown Atlanta, except for an occasional Georgia Tech athletic event, and then we are careful to walk with the crowd of Tech fans. Of course, it would be irresponsible to enter downtown with the car doors unlocked. Visitors should remember the panic button on their remote car lock operator. Tech fans also take care to escort elderly fans from their cars to the stadium/coliseum. Atlanta is a war zone.

By cara

September 9, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

We like to make you all think it’s dangerous so that you’ll keep your dumb azz in Gwinnett. You are a bunch of ignorant racist. Gwinnett/Guatemala is where you need to stay. Don’t come down here with your gun on your hip. You’ll likely get your azz beat with your own gun.

By cara

September 9, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Jais, they say you only have 9 lives and it seems you’ve used up 7. Keep it up and it will be all over soon. Two more to go and we won’t have to listen to your crap anymore.

By AH

September 9, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Wow I live in Downtown and I’m shocked about your attitudes about the area. But I remember with I first came to Atlanta in ‘99 and took a wrong turn and ended up in some sketching areas. I don’t know if I just got use to everything or if there is actual change, I’d like to think that Atlanta is improving.

We are doing everything we can down here in Atlanta to make the city the jewel of the South that it once was and will be again. Anyone who would like to move into the city to help fix the problems we have I welcome you with enthusiasm and know that once you get here you are going to be pleasantly surprised. Everyone else I’m sorry but you might be getting some of our less desirables in the next few months.

By Stone

September 9, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

You don’t have to be racist to avoid Atlanta. I lived downtown and near Lindbergh Plaza for 10 years at let me tell you the crime was outrageous. A cop was murdered and another maimed right across the street from my apartment, drunk drivers crashed their cars into my front yard twice and if you saw someone running in our neighborhood, it meant they had just robbed the Bank Of America (Nations Bank then) or one of the small shops. I live in Johns Creek now and have seen a cop one time in our mixed race neighborhood and he was responding to illegal fireworks. Not everything is a race issue.

By zeke

September 9, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

What an overused, incorrect motto of the city! Atlanta is about nothing but hate! Hate anyone not black! Hate any name not tied to the radical civil rights agenda! I previously lived in Marietta, Smyrna and Mableton, and, never went downtown for anything but the very rare trip to the Varsity, or, to run the PTRR! Downtown Atlanta has nothing to offer respectable family oriented conservative minded people! If you are not black, homosexual, immoraly inclined, there is nothing there for you!

By MJK

September 9, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe what I’m reading. I go downtown to see Braves games, to visit the aquarium, to have dinner, to see shows at the Fox, to take my kids to the museums, and I hope to go see the Falcons. I don’t go as often as I used to when I was younger but there is a wealth of great things to see and do and you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t go.

It is a great big wonderful world out there. Don’t be afraid. Enjoy it.

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Absolutely hilarious. I lived in downtown Atlanta, in one of, you know, the black areas, for almost a year and never had a problem, even during the time that I regularly rode MARTA to work until I was able to afford a car. Quite the contrary, I emerged from the situation with a wife. She and I left the city for the suburbs, but only to find a place where a regular working class person can afford a house with a backyard. Used to visit downtown on a weekly basis when I attended church there (funny how few of you “conservative” folks spewing not too subtle racial code words are talking about Christian fellowship or anything else that Jesus Christ would approve of for that matter) but since finding a church closer to home the trips are less frequent, usually for my kids to see their mother’s family. In all my time going to downtown Atlanta (and I repeat the black areas including the ones around Georgia Tech and Underground Atlanta, Turner Field, and the Atlanta University Center which my wife graduated from), I have never been robbed, never been mugged, never had a gun pointed at me, or anything like that. The most peril that I have ever experienced has been DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS. The downtown drivers go way too slow, the suburban drivers go way too fast … ah stressful and dangerous but by the grace of God I have not been in any accidents. Other than that, I am occasionally bothered by drug dealers and prostitutes offering me their wares, but when I make it clear to them than I am uninterested, they move on to folks that very often seem to have suburban license plates on their cars that are more accommodating to their vices. As suburban Atlanta seems to offer more strip clubs and bars per square mile than any place that I have ever been to, it figures. Maybe if downtown were to export all of the prostitutes and drug dealers to the suburbs, it would cut down on all of the suburban NASCAR and formula one wannabees on the city streets.

And by the way, jais, I am from a very rural area (by the way also heavily black). Where I am from, EVERYBODY had guns, for hunting and protection. And yes, more than a few of my family and friends have served in the military and on police forces, and they have their stories to tell. Funny how none of my extensive experiences with guns - and none of theirs - match yours. I honestly doubt that you are a Subway employee, for I worked my share of fast food jobs while climbing the ladder and my wife did as well to help put herself through school … fast food employees by and large are good people, easy to believe when you consider that my Bible has Jesus Christ saying that hard working honest poor people will inherit the earth and enter into the kingdom of heaven … the way you people talk I guess you skip over those verses in your multimillion dollar suburban country club megachurches (more mega than church I might say). But you are a liar. There is no way that you could have pulled a gun on someone seven times without someone ending up dead or in jail, with that someone likely being you. Now as someone who has been stopped and questioned by police officers a few times for no good reason than I can tell (don’t they have better things to do than harass law abiding citizens on their way to and from work?) and therefore does not share the elevated “the police can do no wrong” opinion of them that seems to prevail in the suburbs, let me say this: the eighth time that you draw your gun one someone (that is assuming that the first seven times were real, which I doubt) it may in fact be on a police officer. (There are in fact black and Hispanic police officers you know.) Let me assure you that the day that you do so will be your last. I support the second amendment, so if you are indeed a registered trained gun owner, I would urge you to be responsible with your weapons and your rights, and to stop spreading fairy tales that in addition to being a violation of the portion of the Ten Commandments against bearing false witness (lying is a sin jais), may inspire other people to reckless dangerous criminal behavior with your words.

By Black Girl - Now OUT of the city

September 9, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

As one pundit so succinctly stated, the Democrat Party is as it always has been, the party of the four S’s: Slavery, Secession, Segregation and now Socialism.

It was the Democrats who fought to keep blacks in slavery and passed the discriminatory Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. The Democrats started the Ku Klux Klan to lynch and terrorize blacks. The Democrats fought to prevent the passage of every civil rights law beginning with the civil rights laws of the 1860’s, and continuing with the civil rights laws of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

It should come as no surprise that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican. In that era, almost all black Americans were Republicans. Why? From its founding in 1854 as the anti-slavery party until today, the Republican Party has championed freedom and civil rights for blacks.

Given the circumstances of that era, it is understandable why Dr. King was a Republican. It was the Republicans who fought to free blacks from slavery and amended the Constitution to grant blacks freedom (13th Amendment), citizenship (14th Amendment) and the right to vote (15th Amendment). Republicans passed the civil rights laws of the 1860’s, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Act of 1867 that was designed to establish a new government system in the Democrat-controlled South, one that was fair to blacks. Republicans also started the NAACP and affirmative action with Republican President Richard Nixon‘s 1969 Philadelphia Plan (crafted by black Republican Art Fletcher) that set the nation‘s first goals and timetables. Although affirmative action now has been turned by the Democrats into an unfair quota system, affirmative action was begun by Nixon to counter the harm caused to blacks when Democrat President Woodrow Wilson in 1912 kicked all of the blacks out of federal government jobs.

Few black Americans know that it was Republicans who founded the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Unknown also is the fact that Republican Senator Everett Dirksen from Illinois was key to the passage of civil rights legislation in 1957, 1960, 1964 and 1965. Not mentioned in recent media stories about extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act is the fact that Dirksen wrote the language for the bill. Dirksen also crafted the language for the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which prohibited discrimination in housing. President Lyndon Johnson could not have achieved passage of civil rights legislation without the support of Republicans.

Today, Democrats, in pursuit of their socialist agenda, are fighting to keep blacks poor, angry and voting for Democrats. Examples of how egregiously Democrats act to keep blacks in poverty are numerous.

After wrongly convincing black Americans that a minimum wage increase was a good thing, the Democrats on August 3rd kept their promise and killed the minimum wage bill passed by House Republicans on July 29th. The blockage of the minimum wage bill was the second time in as many years that Democrats stuck a legislative finger in the eye of black Americans. Senate Democrats on April 1, 2004 blocked passage of a bill to renew the 1996 welfare reform law that was pushed by Republicans and vetoed twice by President Bill Clinton before he finally signed it. Since the welfare reform law expired in September 2002, Congress had passed six extensions, and the latest expired on June 30, 2004. Opposed by the Democrats are school choice opportunity scholarships that would help black children get out of failing schools and Social Security reform, even though blacks on average lose $10,000 in the current system because of a shorter life expectancy than whites (72.2 years for blacks vs. 77.5 years for whites).

Democrats have been running our inner-cities for the past 30-40 years, and blacks are still complaining about the same problems. Over $7 trillion dollars have been spent on poverty programs since President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty with little, if any, impact on poverty. Diabolically, every election cycle, Democrats blame Republicans for the deplorable conditions in the inner-cities, then incite blacks to cast a protest vote against Republicans.

In order to break the Democrats’ stranglehold on the black vote and free black Americans from the Democrat Party’s economic plantation, we must shed the light of truth on the Democrats. We must demonstrate that the Democrat Party policies of socialism and dependency on government handouts offer the pathway to poverty, while Republican Party principles of hard work, personal responsibility, getting a good education and ownership of homes and small businesses offer the pathway to prosperity.

By JaisIsLying

September 9, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Anybody notice that Jais said he pulled his gun downtown, then changed it to “dekalb” in a later post? Am I the only one?

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

@ cara - I’m a Black man who grew up in Southwest Atlanta. When I was in art school in photography, I used to walk anywhere and everywhere I wanted to get the best shot. I rode the bus and train wherever I wanted to go with no problem. Now I live in Gwinnette near Mall of GA. and I have no need to go downtown, but if I do, I’m not worried about the crime or the “element”. That’s in every major city in the world! Everyone in Gwinnette is not a racist, gun toting redneck or wetback! But…like another poster here, I do carry a Taurus PT45 as well as copies of the laws to back me up. I believe in self defense, so when those thugs see my Gwinnette plate and think I’m a target - BIG MISTAKE! I love Atlanta!

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

zeke:

99.9% of the folks in Atlanta are just people trying to make a living for themselves and their families and could care less about politics, radical civil rights or otherwise. Why people like you only seem to encounter the other 0.1% is a mystery. Either you seek that tiny element out to provoke them, or you have never set foot in Atlanta and are lying. Since you obviously have never rubbed shoulders with the school kids, college students, grandmothers, blue collar workers, and church attendees, my strongly educated guess is that it is the latter. Drive over to Cascade and you will see scores of 9 year olds taking golf and tennis lessons in the city park. There are also tons of folks doing their best to try to open (or keep open) private and charter schools for these kids. Boy, that is anti - white, anti - family behavior, isn’t it? Look, instead of spreading lies about an area that you have obviously never set foot in and only know what you have heard the local right wing radio hosts rant that have never set foot in the city either (is “the Kimmer” still on the air?) why don’t you actually go into the city and meet some of these people, especially the kids and their parents and particularly the pastors of churches? (This may shock you, but only an infinitesimal percentage of black churches have anything to do with the NAACP, SCLC, or the civil rights movement. 99.9999% of them are, you know, CHURCHES.) You will find plenty of kids needing mentors, tutors, youth coaches, etc., things to keep them involved while their parents, you know, WORK. If you turn off talk radio and Fox News and actually go meet real people, you will find a lot of positive difference you can make in your community. But if you want to just sit around and rant and hate and be negative, then you get what you deserve.

By citysteve

September 9, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Three years ago I moved from Norcross to Peoplestown,GA (2 blocks south of Turner Field & 2 blocks west of Grant Park in the city of Atlanta) and I love it here. Yes there was a learning curve, about the differance between what I thought were “thugs”, and what “real criminals” were. I live in the middle of a “transitional” neighborhood, and I have Great neighbors, but there is some bad element here too, and NOT ONCE have I EVER felt the need to have a gun nearby! That is a childish thought. I like guns, hunted as a teen, was military trained with them, and the #1 rule, if you are scared, a gun is YOUR worst enemy. Shut that TV off and grow up, this is the real world. We always welcome and support ADULTS to our city and neighborhoods, but if you are scared, please do not add to the problem.

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Black Girl - Now OUT of the city:

The NAACP was not started by Republicans. The NAACP was started by a bunch of atheist communists who were trying to use blacks to turn the United States into a Soviet vassal. The folks who started the NAACP were exploiting the poor to push their radical political agenda, not trying to help them. The black puppets of the NAACP, including W.E.B. Du Bois, did not even want anything to do with darker skinned or poor blacks, one of the reasons why you had to pass the paper bag test (no one whose skin is darker than a paper bag allowed, which would have excluded, say, Michelle Obama) to get into a Atlanta University Center school (except Morris Brown College, originally a great institution for helping the poor before they ruined it with mismanagement and putting politics ahead of education). Since you did not know these vital and obvious facts, then why should I believe anything else that you say, including your claim to be black?

By My 2 cents

September 9, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Gwinnett Commuter: How do you know that “lower income” people are moving into your neighborhood? How can you tell how much they make?

By Gigi

September 9, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

How Often Do We Go Downtown? We NEVER go down there — too dangerous!!!

By c2w3

September 9, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Downtown is disgusting. I’m there three times a week, and two of those three days are spent avoiding panhandlers who verbally mug everyone within eyeshot of them or who will smash out your car windows if for nothing than to take your floormats (swear to God, it happened to friend last week). I’m an Atlanta native and have come to loathe downtown. While in my 20s at Georgia State University, there was a certain mystique to living or working downtown - a hip, grown-up, “making big in the city” kind of feeling. Now it’s a total hassle to go anywhere downtown. Either the parking lot crooks are reaching into your pockets, or the panhandlers are chasing you like a swarm of bloodthirsty horseflies. And the streets all have this sickening-sweet smell of bumbpiss that is so strong in midday summer heat that your eyes water and your nostrils burn. Yuk!

By JohnnyReb

September 9, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

Downtown Atlanta is a complete cesspool full of vermin! The whole city is ran (into the ground) by incompetent shysters. I used to go to an occasional Falcons or Braves game, but the Falcons games started pulling too much gangsta trash during the “Yoyoyo” Vick era. Braves have gotten too expensive. I usually avoid the armpit of Atlanta like the plague, save for the Monster Jam, an occasional country concert or UFC last Saturday.

Jais, you’re right on the money. The police state is rising quickly (ala “1984”). You’re wise to stay heeled & ready. That’s my policy too. Pay no attention to these candy@$$ pinkos on here runnin’ their sewer-yaps, they’d wet their drawers if some gangsta dirtbag even glanced in their direction!

www.gunowners.org/

By Rage Against The Machine

September 9, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

So much anger.

By add14jazz

September 9, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand these crazy people who think downtown Atlanta is so menacing, unsafe or crime-ridden. Yes, we have panhandlers (and one who shot someone after they argued with him in midtown) and the cops need to do something about the freakin’ drug dealing fiends in some parts of downtown, which by the way are parts that most people don’t go to anyway. But I’ve gone to games, had drinks and dinner or just hung out downtown late at night and even taken MARTA home and have seen or had no problems at all. All that crime stuff you hear, believe me, is completely overblown.
Gwinnett seems to be the place where the shooting, gangs and mayhem go on all the time. Jais, look in your own backyard. Oh, and don’t come to any Falcons, Braves or Thrashers games, stay away from the Aquarium, our museums, restaurants, parks and any other amenity downtown Atlanta that those of us with real eyes can see are safe.
Everyone else, stop thinking there is so much crime in downtown Atlanta. Look at the crime statistics!! Jeez!

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

JohnnyReb:

If you read my comments, you will see that A) I used to live in Atlanta and even ride MARTA to work, B) I visit it regularly to take my kids to see my wife’s family and visited downtown even more often when I attended a church there, and C) none of my experiences come anywhere close to yours, dais, twynns, or anyone else. Why is that?

By Katie

September 9, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

There is no reason to go into Atlanta. It’s probably the ugliest city in the country and it has nothing worth seeing. The underground is a shopping center—we’ve got those in Gwinnett and on every other street corner in Georgia. The Coca Cola museum—who cares how coke is made, just serve it to me. The aquarium—full of snotting nosed brats, too many people and way too expensive. Besides, it’s not even one of the better aquariums in the country.. The High museum—yeah, it’s okay but not for going to every single day. So what’s there in Atlanta??? Nothing…. There’s no little Italy, no china town, no market squares, no trollies, no waterfront. Atlanta SUCKS!!!!!

By Rage Against The Machine

September 9, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

Give it up Jais. Everyone knows you are a racist fraud.

By Rage Against The Machine

September 9, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Wait a second Jais. I was on the M-3 Bradley Cavalry Vehicle. They don’t put 50. Cals. on M-2 Bradleys. 25MM Chain Gun, 7.62mm Coax, and twin TOWs are the primary weapons system. Go away Poser.

By Fulton

September 9, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Because of people like Jais, you all can have Gwinette County. Truth be told, there is more traffic and illegals out in the suburbs! As for crime? Wake Up Folks: That can happen anywhere!! For 10 years I’ve lived in the West End area of Atlanta & I sleep with my car unlocked in my driveway & front door open every night!! What say you?

You people don’t want MARTA because you think we’ll all come rushing up there to rob you of your goods…please! Don’t think that highly of yourselves…

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Jais:

I have stopped for gas, fast food, sodas, etc. late at night downtown many a time, as well as gone to restaurants and church. I have never had any problem. Why is it that you do?

By JohnnyReb

September 9, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Gerald - I’ll tell you “why that is“…because you’re probably a bleeding heart liberal who’s trying to sugarcoat the obvious crime elements in the city due to an unfounded case of “white guilt”. BTW, I didn’t allude to any specific bad experiences down there, just my distaste for the riff-raff element & my policy for staying heeled. It’s a free country, if you love downtown so much, then enjoy…but this ol’ countryboy will stay clear of ALL big cities (save for rare occasions).

http://www.cofcc.org

By Jais

September 9, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

They come in standard .50 and 25mm configurations, do your homework. Ours had no TOW’s on it, talk to the c/o and the disbo. Fraud? I’ll fraud my foot up your silly a$$ punk. If you were really in a bradley you would know they don’t come standard with anything, and are outfitted according to theatre of operations. I’ve seen one with four shotguns mounted to the turret. I cooled off around one that had a water tank and a riot sprayer on it =)

you’re the only poser on this blog, son. Again, cop a*******hole- tell me about how you have magical telepathy powers and you know everything? yeah. Next, please. your set-up is stale and played out.

if you like atlanta’s crime, please…by all means, go out there and wait to be killed. It will eventually happen. To try and sit here telling me the numbers lie is ignorant. you fool nobody.

By Fulton

September 9, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

From the sound of most of these posts, it seems all the socio-political hate is in Gwinette County!!

How interestingly hypocritical…

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

JohnnyReb:

By Michael

September 9, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

I work downtown. I love it. Yea there are some things that still need changing, but I’m grateful for the changes that are occuring. It’s a great sense of change currently happening downtown. Downtown will be the standard of the future, because it didn’t get caught up in greed, overbuilding,superficality, and vanity, like other so call booming areas of metro Atlanta. Downtown will be an area for all races, real culture, and great unity. So for all those people, who are still caught up, in hate and racisism, do us all a favor, and leave not only the city, but the state too.

By Jais

September 9, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

From the look of it you can’t spell worth a sht. It seems you doon even know to post right!

How interestingly gwinette!

friggin moron. You can stay the hell out of gwinnet, we don;t need you at all.

to the above poster that stated I need to watch my own backyard- I already do, and trust me…that’s the one place nobody here wants to visit because you will be HAUNTING it for all eternity. step foot in that yard and it’s gonna be lights out; any other man’s yard should be the same.

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

Katie:

I will grant you that Atlanta is no Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, or Miami when it comes to attractions and activities. (Not that there are any activities in attractions in the suburbs either mind you.) But if you think that it is the worst in the country when it comes to such things or anywhere close, then you haven’t been to that many places. Now unlike you, when some suburban area is able to produce some high culture or at least some decent attractions or entertainment, I, who am capable of enjoying myself virtually anywhere around virtually any type of people, will be glad to pay you folks a visit. As it is, since the suburban offerings in this area are limited to thinks like the Big Chicken and that NASCAR motor speedway (which isn’t even one of NASCAR’s best tracks, and yes I did watch NASCAR when I was a youth living in the country, and listened to not a bit of country music as well!) I think that I will pass.

By Andrew

September 9, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

In the 4 weeks I’ve attended Ga State i can confidently say downtown is not so safe. It’s ok during the day as long as you avoid park bums, luckily the police station is there for the 2 incidents I’ve already had. Since I’m on campus nearly 12 hours a day I get here before dawn and leave after dusk. I get asked for money atleast once a day.

Don’t get me started on marta….

By Jais

September 9, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Judas tapdancing priest, Gerald…you mean to tell me you carry a gun but love everyone? Good luck w/that, guy. Personally I see no god in this issue. God’s not going to stop somebody from killing you, period. That’s the same as the governer praying for rain- redunant. You guys keep your prayers and I will act, because that’s how it always goes. Somebody has to.

as far as atlanta…we’re not going to the same places. Atlanta is a big big city. All you folks are arguing the point, but you say “I stay out of those areas” which negates your whole point. You don’t have to go back behind business parks and pick up computers, you don’t seem like a small white man and don’t drive a new honda (probably), so yeah…you wouldn’t see much.

Me, I’ve been around some places in atlanta that crawl (literally) with crackheads and criminal element. SOUTH JONESBORO ROAD (known to cops as j-south) and MLK blvd, almost anywhere in atlanta is a danger at night. It’s great you have a positive outlook, though. It reminds me of my mom, and god forbid something happen to either of you. But like I tell her- I didn;t expect any action in iraq, either. there was so little chance for it. BOY was I ever wrong.

guys…don’t wait for something to happen and hope the cops and magically appear and save you. Fact is they will feel really bad when they pull up and find you dead. They have almost no power to stop criminals who do these things, and they are all too aware of it. The situation sucks, but it’s what I’m used to.

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

JohnnyReb:

I have been to the Council of Conservative Citizens website many a time, and let me tell you … that site does no better job of reflecting what is in the Bible and what is in Jesus Christ than this newspaper does. Reb, this right wing political stuff is of this world. If you continue to love this world and the things in it, on the day of the Lord you will perish in fire along with the rest of it. When Jesus Christ returns, what will come of you and all the things that you hold dear? Will they live forever, or be burnt up in the flame?

Jais:

I have seen Atlanta’s crime numbers. Yet 600,000 people live in the city, and millions more work in the city, the overwhelming majority of whom are never affected by it. Jais, criminals primarily victimize other criminals. If you are a criminal in Atlanta, there is a great chance that you won’t make it past 35 without either being killed or incarcerated. But a law abiding honest person in Atlanta can generally keep himself safe with a few precautions. There are a lot of places in the world where this is not necessarily the case, but Atlanta is not one of them. Otherwise, how else do you suppose that children and elderly people are able to live in Atlanta, as well as working people? You do know that children, elderly people, and working people live in the city, don’t you? For a person who claims to have spent so much time in Atlanta, it certainly doesn’t seem as if you have ever seen a grandmother taking her grandson to church on Sunday night, or people wearing suits carrying briefcases to their jobs in Atlanta’s MANY office buildings the next day. That is why so many people, including me, are convinced that you are either delusional or lying, because our experiences in Atlanta do not match yours. I can assure you that if your depiction of Atlanta were true,

A) It would have been impossible for my wife to work her way through college in that city

B) It would have been impossible for me to live, work, and get married in that city or attend church there for several years

C) I certainly would not take my children there to visit their grandparents, aunts, and other people who still live there.

Goodness, you folks really do need to start reading your Bibles so that you can learn to start dealing with reality, because it honestly does appear that you inhabit some fantasy land. Must be the evolution that they teach in public schools.

By Fulton

September 9, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Ohhhh, tough words from a dial up connection in your mammas basement… Yep, guess you told us, huh?

Tell me, have you figured out that indoor plumbing thing as yet too?

Remember, don’t forget to wipe!!

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Jais:

I no longer carry a gun everywhere I go. I said that I grew up around guns in a rural area. Reading is comprehension. Second, I have no principled reason for not carrying a gun, I just didn’t take one with me when I left my small town and haven’t purchased one since.

Incidentally, there is no contradiction between loving everyone and protecting yourself. The Bible, which you obviously do not read, depicts that. Peter carried a sword and used it to cut off the slave of the high priest’s ear, remember? So I am certainly no pacifist.

I just cannot believe that you have had all of these violent confrontations in Atlanta and I have not had a single one. The worst confrontation that I had was with a fellow who was trying to intimidate me into buying drugs. I have to admit that I was scared, but once he saw that I could not be bullied, he moved on.

It honestly is not my fault that I have had different experiences from the ones that you describe, and for that reason have difficulty believing your story. If you are looking for someone to resent for your experiences, I suggest trying a mirror.

Please understand me: I do not defend, apologize for, or advocate criminal behavior in any way. Criminality is sin, it harms innocent people, and it needs to be stopped. That is one of the main reasons why I oppose gun control … take away guns and only the criminals will have them.

But my point is and has been that the overwhelming majority of people who live in Atlanta are not criminals. If they were, the streets would run red with blood up to everyone’s ankles, and they would have to send the national guard in to shut the place down. As a matter of fact, Atlanta has not even had a major outburst of criminal behavior like a riot that I can recall. The riots in Miami? Los Angeles? Chicago? When did that happen in Atlanta? You had a few thugs imitating the Rodney King riots that they saw on TV by going out and setting some fires and breaking some windows (hopefully they were all caught and imprisoned) but that was it.

I am sorry, jais, but your description of events does not match reality. I will say this: if you have in fact pulled your gun 7 times, you pulled them on innocent people, probably even Atlanta University Center students or city workers. Because let me tell you, criminals have guns and they are willing to use them. If you have pulled guns on criminals 7 times without any of them firing back, then you had better give the God of heaven the glory and start getting serious about believing in Him and serving Him.

And Judas Priest … wasn’t that some devil worshiping heavy metal band? With the anti - Christ filth that you put in your head, it is no wonder what is coming out of your mouth.

By Jais

September 9, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

Screw that sht, Gerald…jesus isn’t here. And I stated that I HAVE to go there. It’s my job. And your vision of that city is skewed or delusional at best. The numbers and statistics on atlanta city website and DCPD website are much different than you say. As I stated fairly, that’s great you have a super-positive, god-fearing outlook. It’s not practical or realistic and has no place in real life, but that’s fine. Wait till the first time you’re robbed and stabbed or shot. Wait till one of your kid takes a bullet in a robbery for his shoes.

Statistics do not lie, bud. Those are verified facts, and the instances of violent crime in atlanta top some of the nation’s worst crime cities.

Like i explained above, Gerald, the proof is in the pudding, that’s probably why nobody messes with you. There was an instance when I came back from duty and passed out drunk on a marta bench for like 8 hours. I awoke to find nothing wrong or missing, only that some jokester had sprinkled grass in my open mouth. I then realized it was the stupidest thing I ever did, including some of the nutty things I did during the war.

crime is real, maybe my view of the city is a bit swayed by the fact I seem to run into this element and have had so many instances of dealing with it. I would prefer not to think that way, and generalize as a rule. My gut has never ONE TIME led me wrong, and I follow it on this one, too. Better to be alive than sorry and dead.

By Jimbo I

September 9, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Oh hell guys, the quality of people the military is pulling in these days just isn’t what it was when you were in, that’s all. I find it perfectly believable that Jais was in today’s military. While I don’t think my comment above applies to all military.. or even most military (except perhaps the Navy, what the hell Navy?) you can’t deny that there are differences. I took a kid I know down to the recruiter’s office and they were handing out information on how to pass a urine test, that doesn’t sound like the Army I joined.

As for carrying? I carry. I carry a .380 pocket automatic or a small revolver. I’ve known some bad men in my day and none of us, not a one, feels any less manly because we carry. Any implication that we are less of a man or some sort of coward is foolishness. I’m not going to prevail in a fist fight with some jail hardened career criminal (or three of them) and I certainly can’t do it and ensure the safety of the missus.. so hey, you feel how you do and I feel how I do.. you call me a coward, I call you a fool.

That said, Jais, you’re dangerous. You need to calm down and re-think your approach to self defense. If you’ve pulled a gun seven times with nary a shot fired it probably means you didn’t need to pull it in the first place. Also, most gun fights are solved in around 6 shots. Having three magazines (and that’s what makes me doubt your military credentials, what ex-military guys calls magazines “clips”?) means you’re carrying 30-50 rounds of ammunition which is way more than you’re going to need to settle a nocturnal encounter. If you need that much ammo, perhaps you should consider keeping a rifle in the trunk (that’s sarcasm).

Anyway, I lived in Gwinnett, I grew up there, went to school there and I still have friends there. I moved downtown a few years ago after working down there for years and I never had much in the way of trouble. I’ve never come even remotely close to drawing a weapon. The worst trouble I ever had was with a couple kids calling me names and well, sticks and stones, right?

I will say I don’t like living here. Too many people, too loud, too inconsiderate. There’s a lot of stupidity and after working down here for so long the appeal of Atlanta as an attraction has completely worn off. I occasionally go to the High with the missus or we’ll go to eat out.

Anything Atlanta does I’ve seen done better in another city. We’re thoroughly third rate in nearly every regard.

Actually, Java Jive makes some of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had and I do appreciate that Atlanta has so many varieties of foods to choose from..it’s just hard to find some of them. Fat Matt’s and Daddy D’s and some of the places in Virgina Highlands are really worth seeing and enjoying. Manuel’s is nice and the Vortex used to be, but I think they’re sliding a bit. Oh and Grant Park, that place has some nice places to eat in it. But our more conventional attractions aren’t that great. Oh and to the guy from Philly, you guys have some fantastic bars and a great art museum. The area around the Olympia is nice to walk around too. That’s what I mean about Atlanta getting trumped. I can think of three bars in Philly that were better than any bar I’ve been in here (though Mulligans over on the east side is pretty great).

By MRene

September 9, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

Atlanta is truly a beautiful city. I would love to spend more time in Atlanta since its has so much to offer (Arts, Shows,Sports,concerts,shopping,etc.)

But parking is a concern (too costly), transportation from county,and time.

Atlanta is the New York City of the South. People come to our wonderful city of Atlanta to enjoy the big city feel with the southern atmosphere. People come here because they feel safe.

I live in Gwinnett, some parts of Atlanta is no more dangerous than some areas in Gwinnett. Remember Gwinnettians you all complain about the crime and traffic in Gwinnett; so maybe we need the same protection in Gwinnett as suggested for the ATL.

By Reid in EAV

September 9, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

I live here and am raising a family here (two girls so far). I love being in the city — there’s so much for us nearby, from Braves games nearly next door to Centennial Olympic Park (fountains!) and the children’s museum. Our school district isn’t the best, but we’ve found a good private school we can afford.

Alas, despite my lurid fantasies of it being New Jack City, there’s been a shocking lack of thuggin’ and gunplay. But if you Gwinnettians are intent on thinking this is a “war zone,” it’s no bother to me if you decide to stay where you are.

By Jimbo I

September 9, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

I should qualify my work history in Atlanta, I worked mostly nights and weekend downtown near the GSU campus and I wasn’t armed. We used to push fat stacks of expensive computer equipments between to buildings in the early morning hours. The bums get a little aggressive but they aren’t hard to intimidate. I’ve also experience crime in the area up close, just never had to draw a weapon. So it’s not some wonderland of awesome, but it doesn’t take much to avoid the worst of it.

By Jais

September 9, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

There you go again with the judao-christian sentiment. Look, I’m no atheist, but fiercely against organized religion in general. That bible you read is a post King James bible, and the man rewrote and added several texts that were, in fact (check any thological or literary organization) for the sole purpose of taking power from the catholic church and to rest it squarely in his hands. “Render unto ceasar what is ceasars” is one of these texts.

there you go again with this ‘god grants wishes’ crap. God don’t grant wishes and if you try and get him to prove he’s real…guess what: don;t hold your breath.

I’m with George washington on this issue, because he beleived that god existed, but was not something that interfered with mans daily affairs. If washington hadn’t shared my views of ‘act in faith, not rest in it’ we would not have a country right now.

you’re hiding behind religion. Your ‘bible’ as you call it is an altered version of what some say is the remnant of propoganda by the english king. The closest thing you will be able to read outside of actual sumerian texts is the greek orthodox texts, and even they seem watered down and skewed.

Consider your source, buddy. Not everyone is an evangelical religious zealot like you. Some of us live by what we see and do, not what we read in an altered text.

When three men, two men, four men, a single man, a man and a woman, and again two men begin approaching you with a cagy step in a dark parking lot while you’re moving new computers…they are about to rob you. Especially when they are looking right at you and glancing back to make sure nobody else is looking…something is up. When two men approach in a full on gallop from a dark greenbelt…they are out to rob you. when a bunch of people pull up and start pouring out of a hatchback…and you are one of the only people around…they are out to rob you.

the difference between me and you is I actually have to be in these situations, and must do business with my wholesaler. He’s been robbed twice, and now carries a pistol in open sight. So do I, so does anyone else that works in his warehouse.

just because you LOVE people and LOVE the bible does not mean anyone else shares your views. It also does not mean you have ever had to be in a dark alley in atlanta at night. Matter of fact I don’t beleive you’ve ever fought a man in your life. You have a hard time imagining this because you are frankly a fanatical moron. If god doesn’t let christians get hurt they wouldn’t have invented BULLETS, OK? get real, gerald get real.

By Jimbo I

September 9, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Wow and in that second post I show I can’t type.

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Good grief, what a hodge-podge of crap. Some good, some bad. Everybody calling everybody else liars. What’s up with that?

Gerald, the reason your story doesn’t match with mine? Well, i’m not sure, but instead of questioning your integrity, Instead of telling you about the time I had a gun put in my face, I’m going to congratulate you. I actually glad you’ve had positive experiences.

Have a nice day y’all. I’ll check back in when things are a little more civil.

By Jais

September 9, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Happens to the best of ‘em.

By mugglemikki

September 9, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

I’m reminded again why I chose not to live in Gwinnett County..you are guys are some of the most racist, bigoted, low-class people I have ever had the privilege of NOT meeting..let’s keep it that way!

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

MRene:

Is your school private or religious? I want to know because if I ever have to move back into the city, I will be on the lookout for some good (affordable!) Christian schools for my kids.

By Jimbo I

September 9, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Oh Mugglemiki, that’s universal across the whole country.

I got called a “white btch” by a 12 year old while I was driving through Mechanicsville over on the SW side of town I guess. Another group of kids told me to get my “lame white as” out of their neighborhood. Bet I know where they learned that attitude. I’ve seen some pretty harsh racism up north and in the midwest they hate native americans. It’s actually worldwide, I know people in the UK who hate blacks (they don’t call them African-American in the UK, what would you call them? African-English?) and Pakistani. Most of them are worse than the people here.

By mugglemikki

September 9, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Jimbo—I never said Gwinnett County had the corner on racism—I’m not naive enough to believe that..but what I am saying, after reading some of these vitriolic posts, I thank my lucky stars I live in a diverse community. I thought this blog was asking people if they go downtown..not about illegal aliens, the right to bear arms, etc….I guess I stumbled onto the wrong blog..

By Ann

September 9, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

I live in Gwinnett and running around in Gwinnett is about as dangerous as being in downtown Atlanta. The cultural changes over the last 10 years have brought about increased crime and violence. I ONLY go downtown Atlanta for an event, and only then if I’m with another person.

I travel all over the US and have met and chatted with numerous people - as far away as Salem, OR - who have been in Atlanta and experienced crime. I’ve sat next to people on planes who were coming to Atlanta to see about coming to work here (transferring in), and I’m asking them why they would want to move here. A significant area in and around Atlanta is nothing more than a lawless, poorly run, attitudes against whites, violent and dangerous city. Why anyone with children would want to move here is beyond me.

And before anyone snaps back why I’m still here, I’m moving as soon as I can. Every time my children come to visit and we go to the local WalMart (Stone Mountain), they ask me when I’m moving. They notice the changes and acknowledge a fear and concern of the situation. And my house has been robbed, we think by one of the neighbors. And YES, he’s white. I am not stupid in that whites do no crimes. Talk about serial killers, and we are at the top of the list, plus lots more. As another reader mentioned, check out the Gwinnett Detention Center stats.

Travel around the US and see what the goal of every African American is? To move to Atlanta. It’s all many of them can talk about. It’s their dream.

How sad that our communities have become what they are, and no one (Atlanta’s government, Gwinnett’s, DeKalb’s, etc.) will look honestly at the situation and identify it as it truly is. Look at what’s happened in Henry County. See the school board members and understand why the county lost it’s accreditation. People should be in charge based on their qualifications, experience, and abilities. Not because they are the ‘chosen’ color. Had they known what they were doing and following the guidelines, they wouldn’t have lost their status.

Go downtown Atlanta? With another person, ONLY. And I can’t even rely on the AJC to give me a description of people to be aware of. Notice how the papers will not describe the race of the people committing the crimes. Well, based on what’s normal, I just usually guess. Actually, I am cautious of everyone - color does not matter.

By shaun

September 9, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

I wnet once when I first moved to the area in 1992. I was robbed at gunpoint and have never been back.

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

Ann:

Blacks desire to move to Atlanta because it is seen as a place where a black person can have a professional career or own a business. Based on the huge number of blacks with college stickers on their license plates, it would appear that they are right? Certainly you cannot fault people for wanting to move to a climate that is favorable to their getting work. So the question is: are there barriers to blacks getting favorable job opportunities and owning businesses in other places that causes them to seek Atlanta out? Either that, or the milder weather and the cheaper real estate that allows lower professional people (teachers, nurses, store managers) to become suburban homeowners in Atlanta makes it more fun. In many other places in the country, it snows and ices over all winter and a 3 bedroom home on a 1/4 acre plot of land costs $900,000. In Atlanta it snows MAYBE once every 3 years and that same house and land costs $175,000. I don’t know about you, but I would leave Boston, New Jersey, Detroit, or Chicago for Atlanta too …

By Rage Against The Machine

September 9, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Jais you are truly pathetic. It’s one thing to hide behind a keyboard and rant, But quite another to attempt to pass yourself off as a OIF Vet. These Kids are sacrificing for us every day. And the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice make it possible for the rest of to argue about this non sense.

Your outrageous lack of knowledge about military equipment you supossedly are an expert at as well your sad been there done that psycho routine makes me sick. You are a cliche. A product of tabloid TV and an overactive imagination. If this sounds mean spirited, trust me it is. Guys like you taint the views of less informed citizens.

I’m done with you boy.

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

If my post comes through twice, sorry about that…was just trying to share the link about the Gwinnett DA’s views on the stadium funding. I tried twice, but to no avail, so far. Good article but unfortunately I can’t provide the link…waiting to see if this comment posts…

By Threadkiller

September 9, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

If some of you are going to bash Gwinnett, can you at least spell it right? It is spelled G-W-I-N-N-E-T-T. Google it if you like..

By Stan

September 9, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

WOW…Y’all put me and LT’s little tiff to shame!!! WTG

LOL too funny, all the interweb bada$$

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Threadkiller, I’d like to think if people possess enough smartz to find this blog, that they have enough inteligentz to look up top of this page to see how Gwinnett is spelled. But since they don’t…we just overlook them…and their knowledge-less comments. They’re usually the ones who pull out and use the race card anyway. Most of us have no clue what color the others on here are…yet some are quick to scream “racism”. Know what? I think it’s lack of anything of substance, to say. But I could be wrong. It’s happened before and it will happen again.

By what?

September 9, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Ann, It was not Henry County that lost their accreditation, it was Clayton County.

By what?

September 9, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

Ann, It was not Henry County that lost their accreditation, it was Clayton County.

By Jais

September 9, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

NOwicunv- I certainly am a racist where dumbass people are concerned. And trust me…if you or rage against the machine saw me on the street you wouldn’t try a damn thing either, that includes in uniform. Nobody attacks me period. bottom line. The onlt other alternative you have to that is take a bullet. Even mr. big badazz there Rage won’t do it.

and I got news ‘boy’, like it or not I’m a vet. Nothing you can say here blocks that fact. I’ll now direct you to to take another look at the bradley because they can and usually ARE equipped far differently than you claim.

I’m done with you too, boy.

By Fred

September 9, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

As usual, Just like ole Jay, from a couple days ago, now Rick has started a blog about safety in downtown Atl. The first few blogs relate to the subject, then 75% of the others are just people who have nothing better to do, so they berate other bloggers for saying whats on their minds. AJC should outlaw all blogs because they just bring out the hatred in folks that have nothing to say.

By Gerald

September 9, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Twynn:

You said “They’re usually the ones who pull out and use the race card anyway. Most of us have no clue what color the others on here are…yet some are quick to scream “racism”.”

Pardon me, but the first person on this post was Jais and his race - baiting rant. And it turns out - to no surprise to me - that Jais is not a Christian. And guess what? Then he starts hating Protestants! Well, since most blacks are Protestant, maybe THAT is the real reason why Jais cannot stand them.

In any event, you said

“By Twynn September 8, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this Oh and by the way, yesterday at the mall, we passed one of the little kiosk’s with tshirts that showed Obama. Above his picture it said “I have a dream” and below is picture it said “And now it’s a reality”.

He’s now being treates as a human rights activist, receiving unmerited favor based soley on the color of his skin. Quite frankly, he could say anything and it would still be ok with his followers. I liken him to the Pied Piper…I’m just not certain exactly who all will end up in the river. Best guess…everyone.”

Racial remarks maybe? Or how else were we supposed to take it? You had better get out of that glass house of yours before some stones start flying. And yes, it precisely hypocritical attitudes and statements like that which cause me to question your integrity, as you called it. If you and your buddies like jais are going to toss out race - baiting statements as if it is OK and then call other people racist, then yes that makes us wonder whether you have ever actually had a gun pointed at you or anything else.

It is just like how you can turn on talk radio or read the right wing blogs and encounter all the comments from people that SWEAR to have lost a job or not gotten into college because of affirmative action. Now since A) blacks are only 10% of the population and B) some of them are actually qualified for the opportunities they get, and C) blacks are disproportionately represented in jails and on public assistance, how can all of these white people have POSSIBLY lost all of these college slots and jobs to affirmative action? Rush Limbaugh calls Barack Obama the magic negro. Well, are there these magic negroes that are somehow serving in prison, collecting welfare, getting accepted into 5 or 6 colleges, and working 10 or 12 jobs all at the same time? Because that is what it would take for even 1/10th of these affirmative action victim urban legends to be true. And that is even when you leave out the fact that A) only a tiny percentage of colleges and workplaces even use affirmative action … for instance the only colleges in the whole state that uses it are Emory, UGA, and Medical College of Georgia and B) even the few places that do use affirmative action only use them to fill a tiny number of positions. And by the way: I OPPOSE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION! But you see, I am able to oppose affirmative action and still be able to tell that virtually all of the people claiming to have been victimized by it are liars.

So, Twynn, as you can see, I have sufficient reason to doubt the integrity of such people, because such people have provided ample reason for me to do so. It is particularly ridiculous when you realize how downtown Atlanta is rapidly gentrifying. Places that were 100% black just 10 years ago are now mostly white. If Atlanta were this anti - white war zone that you people keep claiming that it is, would that be happening? Go to places like Virginia Highland, Little Five Points, Olympic Village, and you will see as many white people as blacks if not more, not to mention no small number of Asians.

It isn’t just “my experience” or “I have been lucky.” It is the experience of virtually every law abiding person in the city. Again, if you are a criminal in Atlanta, you will be dead or in jail by 35. Otherwise, violent crimes are rare, and even most of those are domestic violence crimes and rapes.

Maybe it is different in Miami, Washington D.C., Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City, but in Atlanta the primary problem is a criminal underclass that mostly preys on EACH OTHER. That plus the domestic violence situation accounts for at minimum 70% of the crime statistics that you folks are talking about. If that weren’t the case, you certainly wouldn’t have Fortune 500 companies building live - work - play areas and giving incentives to their employees to move into the city. What Fortune 500 companies would lure their employees into the city to get raped and shot?

Do not get me wrong. Crime is a big problem in Atlanta. We need a city government that actually cares about protecting people from crime and putting the thugs in jail. But pretending that every person that ventures into the city does so at his own peril is just as delusional as the black people that I know that are scared to go to Forsyth County at night because they have watched “Mississippi Burning” too many times and think that the Ku Klux Klan and local sheriffs are up their throwing black people into jail for no reason and lynching them.

By NOWICUNVME

September 9, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

Uhh…ANN??? It was Clayton County who lost their accreditation not Henry County. Where do you get your information? The goal of every African American around the world is to move to Atlanta? Absurd! As a matter of fact, after informing my many friends and family how prejudiced and racist alot of people are here they have absolutely no desire to come anywhere near Atlanta. How Georgia is an “employee at will” state which means you can be fired for no reason at all. Just another form of oppression. How a great deal of Blacks that have grown up in this confederate state still do not understand the quality of being “free”. How Gwinnett County still has a judge by the name of Cooke in the court system who thinks that the “KKK” is a persecuted group!! That vindicated a man who wore his KKK costume and said he needed to conceal his identity and be able to recruit more members without fear of any sort of retaliation. Sorry my dear. Please don’t speak on what you don’t know. You want the AJC to give you a description of people to be aware of? Call the Psychic Network! Are you kidding me?! Crime, violence and the unknown have no face or description. Perfectly normal average looking individuals could be two faces of evil. You just never can tell.

By AeroNautica0909

September 9, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

I go to Downtown every day for work, on my way to class, and just to ride around and have fun. I love Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. I love the City of Atlanta- there’s always something to do and something to see. Eventually, after I get my degrees and have a decent paying job, I plan to move in-town, especially to either Downtown or Midtown.

By Michael

September 9, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

Just glancing through some of you guys comments is really sad. After serving in the United States Marine Corp it’s very sad, that soliders defend American citizens with some of the statements listed above. I would love to send some of you spoiled Americans, to a third world country for service, and then see what kind of statements you black, white, asian, latin American citizens would have then. Downtown Atlanta is a bless place, please appreciate all American cities.

By JohnnyReb

September 9, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this

Gerald, I reckon you seem like an alright fella. However, I’m adherent to the Old Testement philosophy…which is indeed “right wing”. Just because your a Christian doesn’t mean you have to be milquetoast & a doormat for thugs & other vermin. Checkout Shepard’s Chapel with Pastor Arnold Murray…a strict fundementalist with some backbone (USMC retired, Korean War (Chosin Resevoir vet). I don’t believe in this weak-mined megachurch version of Christianity.

Bottom line, I don’t like the city & rarely venture therewithin. I stay heeled & ready, but hope I don’t need to cut loose.

P.S. - I don’t care for that pompous Hannity or O’Reilly. Savage is okay, but I prefer the Political Cesspool. BTW, I don’t worship/bow to any man. It’s just insight from various resources.

http://www.anu.org

By Conservative Milf

September 9, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

OMG, I can not believe how awful you are “Fascist” Against The Machine. You are a typical Know it all cop with poor manners and even worse grammatical abililties. Surely a product of the dismal Georgia education system. Jais I’m so sorry that heroes like you are treated this way by fascist scum like Rage. If he were half the man that you are he would be doing something to make our county safe from this illegal invasion. Instead he and others like him are living off the backs of the true Patriots. Rage you are the “boy”.

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

Gerald, Wow, your fingers must be really tired now. I could pick apart every thing you’ve said and twist it to fit my needs, just as you’ve done mine, but I don’t particularly care to. My gut feeling is that it wouldn’t sway your views anyway, nor did yours sway mine. Notice how I talked civil to you, yet you blasted me. Instead of discuss, you condemn.

I couldn’t tell you what talk-radio personalities say, as I don’t listen to them or drink their kool-aid.

This Christian/Protestant comment. Are you referring to Old Testament Christians versus New Testament Christians or am I just totally lost? The New Testament replaced and released us from the covenant of the Old Testament. It’s important to know the OT and understand the basis, history and pricipals of it, in order to correctly interpret the NT. But please, i’m lost…what has that got to do with black or white people?

And the Obama t-shirt…that’s still not indicative of what color I am. It’s only indicative of black views and the reasons to support Obama. I could be mixed black and white see clearly both sides? You simply don’t know. And it’s not safe to assume.

By mike

September 9, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

* I grew up in Gwinnett County.. went to Georgia State University for 5 years.. never a problem in downtown. Never threatened, never robbed, never beaten up, etc..(yeah there are bums but every big city has freakin’ bums!!) …..downtown Atlanta is not South Central LA in the 90s people… I am not afraid of Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, Asians, Gays, Cops, or whoever, I go where I want when I want .. pretty simple concept.. I have never carried a gun downtown and have never needed to. No reason to live in fear cause the TV and Fox news told you to… I have visited downtown at night many, many times (concerts, sports, dinner, etc) and never been scared. All you MEN who are scared of downtown go change your dress and go back to where you came from.*

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Conservative Milf, You really shouldn’t insert yourself into this. Both Jais and Rage, along with all the other big boys here can take of themselves without us. Both of them handled themselves accordingly in the service, I offer as proof the fact that they are here with us today, and in light of that, can certainly handle themselves as well as each other, on this blog. Their little contesting comments are just what they do sometimes. It’ll be ok.

P.S. I, just like you, took the same approach when I was new here. It’s just what we (women) do. But they’re big, strong, tough, men who will fare just fine. Truth be told, I kinda think they enjoy their satirical banter. :)

By Marc

September 9, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

The discourse here is some of the most absurd and irrational I have ever read. Both sides of the argument seem to have taken it too personally to think straight. The shame is that, when allowed anonymity, humans really can stoop this low. It doesn’t bode well for any of us.

By Jais

September 9, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this

Well said Marc. I am truly sorry, but I supose that was evidant already.

By Downtoen Kool-Ade Drinker

September 9, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this

My wife and I have been in Atlanta for 12 years, 8 in Castleberry Hill by the Georgia Dome. My son loves it here. He loves walking to Centennial Olympic Park with the dog; seeing the whale sharks at the Aquarium; seeing the pandas at the Zoo; seeing Egyptian statues from the Louvre at the High Museum; shopping for fresh produce at the weekend market; and eating Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Mexican, and good old American food.

Yes, crime exists in Atlanta - we have suffered car break-ins. I witnessed one brandishing at 1am on an early Saturday morning (punk kid, maybe 18, showing off for his girl threatening an old homeless couple where both were drunk). The brandishing was ridiculous as I was dealing with a 60lb. dog with the runs; which is worse? I called it in, the brandishing that is, to make sure the crime stats reflected reality and moved on and made sure I did not step in it as it were.

We all have our own experiences that shape the lenses through which we view Atlanta. I grew up in a 20K person town in a northern state and also spent many years in Boston, DC, Philly, and NYC. Every city has its “no-go” zones which change over time. My own experience is that “no-go” zones change faster than our own prejudices do. A cousin (from a country in South America) who stayed with me for a month in DC made me see that in myself with the memorable walking tours he did in DC and NYC to places I dared not go myself because of my prejudices. Atlanta is a large town that is trying its best to be an international city. Please contribute to make it so. The city and surrounding counties have a symbiotic relationship; keep nurturing it. There is no need to keep tearing each other down.

Give downtown Atlanta another try.

By Happy Bunny

September 9, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

You go Twynn. You seem to be the one sane Breeder posting here. The people here should really just stay on the subject. Instead we get more hate and vitriole than a Republican Party Prayer Service. And none of it has anything to do with how safe you feel in the city. And this conservative milk chick should take a lortab or valium and just chill.

By Intowner

September 9, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

Some of these comments are really funny—but I guess I felt the same way before I moved into a downtown loft in 2000. Having been here 8 years, you see some problems that most “large” cities have…but for the most part, it’s a wonderful community. We have most of the best restaurants, my job is five blocks away, we walk to parks, don’t have to commute, and can walk home to Grant Park after a Braves game. Is there crime? Sure. Are there unsafe areas? Definitely. But are there hundreds of Georgia families raising their kids with tons of opportunities, diversity, and experiences in a place that’s not homogenized? Yes. It’s almost like living in a small town. Walking down the street to the corner ice cream shop and saying hello to all your neighbors you actually know. It’s wonderful. I admit, it’s not for everyone…but if you haven’t been to some of the intown neighborhoods…you are really in for a treat with all the cafes, bookstores, art galleries, bakeries, etc. Give it a chance! :)

By Stone

September 9, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

Happy Bunny you complain “the people here should stay on subject” about “how safe you feel in the city”, yet you veer way off course and talk about a “Republican Party Prayer Service” like that has anything to do with the subject at hand. Look in the mirror before you point fingers, skank.

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this

By the way Gerald, have you seen the millage rates those gentrifying areas in Fulton are paying nowadays? There’s really no wonder the area’s are improving.

When the section 8 owners declined the option to pay such inflated property taxes, there really was no option but to abandon or sell the property…and who exactly would pay competitive prices for homes in declining areas? Nobody.

So the revitalization progress began. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking i’m uninformed. The first little new neighborhood that was built of Memorial Dr between Hill Street and Boulevard…I experienced that, heck 14 years ago.

That’s when whites and gay’s began moving into that area, when the changes began. Real Estate agents said to live there 4 years and then sell at approximately 50-75% profit.

I thought about it a little bit since last time I posted and realized that you probably thought I was just running off at the mouth. I wasn’t.

I used to live in Lakewood and take the bus to work downtown. When I managed to get a car, I took a friend home who lived off Jonesboro Rd in the same area that cops refused to even go into. At other times I took her to her aunt’s house in Vine City. Do I sound racist? Hey, I can’t lie, sometimes I am. Who isn’t? It’s the fact that most of the time, I am a level-headed, non-racist person that makes me have the ability to get along with most people. I can discuss most things. Heck, I can even change my thoughts about some things, given the chance. I have nothing against being corrected if my ways err. But to doubt what I say, please don’t.

I shared my story because it’s what Rick Badie asked us to do. I come to this blog because I enjoy doing it. I generally do not berate anyone. Sometimes things may come across a little if’y, but if you take a persons complete demeanor and base their comments on it, you can usually discern who speaks with hate and who doesn’t.

If it seems like I’ve had more run-ins with the cops or with other people, than would be my likely fair-share, consider the fact of where I’ve lived and where I’ve worked. And even that considered, you still don’t know even a fraction of it. I remember vividly when Officer Nigel Johannson was murdered. He wasn’t a bad cop, but the area I lived in just wasn’t very friendly toward cops who thought criminals needed to go to jail. So yeah, I had a gun pulled in my face. But since you doubt that, I won’t even tell you about the time a guy actually guarded me in the projects, where I was set up and left. You really would call bs on that one.

Just because one lives in Gwinnett now doesn’t make them any particular kid of person. Just like living in Atlanta doesn’t either.

I’m rambling, I know. So i’ll stop now.

By Twynn

September 9, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

Rick can we have a new blog? :) puh-puhpuhleeeeze…

By fk

September 9, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this

I meet my husband downtown every so often. I even take Marta…gasp. We see a lot of concerts at Phillips and enjoy going to restaurants in Atlanta.

Do the former residents who have moved to the suburbs go downtown anymore?

By Happy Bunny

September 9, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

Stone, for your information I’m not a skank. In my estimation only those born of the female purrrrrrrsuasion can legitimately be called a skank. But thanks for noticing sweety.

By intown joe

September 9, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

This string only goes to show that those of you living outside the perimeter need to stay outside! Your country mentality needs to stay in the back woods where you belong. This goes for anyone north of 17th street, all of Gwinnett County and Cobb County.

By donald

September 9, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this

I know this article is for people who go downtown from other areas, but I lived in Gwinnett, specifically in Duluth from 1987-2005 and presently live downtown near the dome so I have a keen perspective I’d like to share.

First of all, I don’t regret a day I made the move here. The Gwinnett County I knew when I moved here in ‘87 is a thing of the past. That is good and bad, but the quality of life there IS NOT what it used to be!! Traffic was sucking the life out of me, so much so that I did not want to go anywhere for fear of being stuck in yet another traffic jam.

Gwinnett has a very serious over development problem that the goverment hasn’t owned up to. GPM used to be one of the preimer malls in the metro area, but is now a joke, infested with cheap and lower quality stores.

My move downtown has been one of rebirth for me. I live near the aquarium, centennial park, ga dome, phillips arena, cnn, etc. I CAN WALK TO ALL THESE VENUES. I have even begun working out in the pool at ATL Medical Center, less than 2 miles from home. There are at least 3 dozen resturants within walking distance of here with several more to come.

Last, but not least, where it too me at least an hour to get to work in decatur, I now get to and from home in about 20 minutes, but I’m not stopping there, my goal is to now find a job where I can walk to work!!

I feel more safe downtown than I did in my apt in Duluth. Frankly, things got so bad there that they loaded the place with police officers because of break-ins and 2 rapes before I left. Has my car got broken into downtown, yes twice, but the first one was my fault, I was too lazy to put my car in my underground parking space. The second time was an inside job from a person leasing one of the condos.

I would not trade the experience for anything in the world. If I move again it will be somewhere very near my present loft or even in the building i live in now.

You folks in the ‘burbs can have that scene, my calling is the city, say what you want, but the proof is in the pudding, more people are moving downtown everyday, the flood gates have opened!

By Rage Against The Machine

September 10, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this

Donald, you are the man. Of all of us commenting and poking each other in the eye with the proverbial sharp stick, you added a lone voice of reason.

The suburbs have turned out to be the very hell that people were trying to escape. Every time I run the Peachtree or the Atlanta Marathon (The real one on Thanksgiving.),I marvel at how the city has changed since I lived there as a child. It is as safe in the ATL as it is in the SNLVL. Don’t believe me? Just take a stroll up Highpoint Rd. at midnight.

And Donald, if you aren’t tearing your eyes out driving to and from work, Man, you got the rest of us stupid lemmings beat. Heck I get road rage driving to Lawrenceville. If I could afford to live in the Highlands, or Inman Park. Or better yet one of the Old Bass Elementary School Lofts in Little 5. I’d do it in a second. Sounds like you know what’s up.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

September 10, 2008 1:01 AM | Link to this

I’m a freelancer and I go into Atlanta when I get paid to do so. It’s a hellish place that is infested with with the lowest of human vermin. It’s always been an unpleasant place but now it’s unbearable.

By JR Sappington

September 10, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

To all of you “bloggers” out there.. it is amazing the bravdo that exists when one hides behind an avatar on a blogging site. Anonymity is just another name for cowardice.

By john adams

September 10, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

left the metro area 28 years ago, they could nuke the place for all i care, i would not lose a minutes sleep!!!

By Twynn

September 10, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

Actually Sappington, it’s called common sense. The ones on here who need to know who I am, already do. To post on a blog, you don’t need to show a photo id, your power bill, car registration,credit report or provide a blood sample. It’s a BLOG.

By Airborne

September 12, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

Jais,stop reading up on the military and face the truth.Anyone who has served two tours in a combat zone wl find nothing to brag about when it comes to how many people they’ve killed.Old time vets cl guys like you “PX”soldiers.How much does it cost now to buy medals from the px,if you know what that is.You’re probably one of those fake heros who go in a bar or at work and tell war stories.I bet you were a company clerk who grabbed your weapon and buried your face in the sand.Since you want to know what when and where i went through basic training,wl fake soldier,A-5-1 Fort Jackson,SC.1964-Then to Fort Benning,GA.for Airborne Training,assigned to 42nd company.1964,then assigned to Fort Campbell Kentucky home of the 101ST(Screaming Eagles)at that time Airborne,not Air Asslt.I was assigned to Co.C 502nd 1st Brigade,then shipped to Viet Nam and assigned to a “LRPS” team,i’m not going to say how many people i may have shot,because that’s nothing to brag about,and by the way i was discharged honorably,rcv a “Bronze Star”,you do know what that is,don’t you.I enlisted in the active reserves,and joined the 11th Special Forces Grp.where i earned my flash,you do know what that is don’t you?You really don’t want to meet me anywhere,in fact a confrontation with you would be a waste of time,plus experiance wins each time.So you see i don’t need a gun,my training has taught me well.Guys like you were “fragged” in Nam,because you would be a problem to others and shipped home labeled “friendly fire”,Therefore continue to be a book soldier you may have a prosperous life.What company were you in and when did you enlist,leg.You don’t know what that mean do you? By the way since you have quoted something from george washington,read the farmers almanac,the delaware river would have been hard to cross, if the river is frozen,so why should your quote have any truth,when the river was frozen.I cannot tell a lie,remember that.Goodluck being a tough guy and wannabe member of the military.Don’t disgrace the military,it’s guys like you that the military don’t need.Go be a mercenary,since you have a kill mentality.You won’t last long,because bullets wl be coming back at you,see you later firefly.you figure it out.

By Airborne

September 12, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Jais,all the heros i know like Milton Olive(Airborne)was awarded the (MOH) Clarence Sasser awarded the (MOH)these are guys who i respected.If you was’nt in the military don’t disrespect the lives that were given,for dumb,racist,wannabes like you,be of truth and it may set you free of the anger you hold within,people in the military are putting there lives on the line to allow you to say and feel the way you do,stop abusing that privelige,and be a man.Remember,a weapon was’nt just made for you,you may be slow on the draw one day,then what, more lies? i’m going to close out because you seem to be just another waste of time and correspondence,i won’t allow myself to come to your level,one of us has to take charge.bye

By Airborne

September 12, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

Jais,all the heros i know like Milton Olive(Airborne)was awarded the (MOH) Clarence Sasser awarded the (MOH)these are guys who i respected.If you was’nt in the military don’t disrespect the lives that were given,for dumb,racist,wannabes like you,be of truth and it may set you free of the anger you hold within,people in the military are putting there lives on the line to allow you to say and feel the way you do,stop abusing that privelige,and be a man.Remember,a weapon was’nt just made for you,you may be slow on the draw one day,then what, more lies? i’m going to close out because you seem to be just another waste of time and correspondence,i won’t allow myself to come to your level,one of us has to take charge.Maybe you need to go to the V.A hospital,it seems like you’re suffering from a mild case of ptsd.check it out 2 tour guy