Gang Data

An article in the Asheville Citizen Times today reports gang violence is down in Asheville. The information comes from a NC Gang Investigators Association symposium. Evidence cited is a decrease, in excess of 25%, in calls for service for gun crimes. Obvious objections to the reporting include a lack of information substantiating a one to one correlation between gun crimes and gang behavior, and a glaring assumption that all other factors are equal in the statistical analysis. Also irksome is the sense that government is going about approaching problems by creating committees and holding seminars. One thing that does give the claim credibility is commentary from Captain Tim Splain about the implementation of focused deterrence. Officers picked up gang leaders and told them they faced prosecution if the violence continued. The leaders spread the word. Was the police department just threatening to apply the law, or were they making gang leaders responsible for their underlings

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21st Century Fig Leaf

The Swain County Commissioners decided to remove controversial language from a billboard. They did not think it was tasteful for the county to be pushing birth control for youth. The sign was placed on a road traveled by school buses. The services have been provided by the health department for 30 years.