NYE in Bessemer, Al (homes, movies, school)

[Historic Bessemer]

On new years eve I had to work until 11:30 pm. I rushed home, trying to arrive by 12 so I could get a NYE kiss from my wife. I stopped at the Traffic Light at the intersection of 4th Ave and 18th street. I had my window rolled down and could hear the gunfire erupting all over the city. I thought for a moment as I sat at the light about how glad I was that the kids were at Grandma's house.As the light turns green and I pull away I notice, to my left about8-9 Bessemer police cars sitting in the Ally between the Regions bank and the Bright Star building. There were a few officers standing outside talking and a few of the cars were idling. (I could see the exhaust in the cold night air.) This of course infuriated me! How can the Police, who are expected to protect and serve the citizens of Bessemer be huddled up with thier heads in the sand and not even respond to all the gunfire! It is illegal to discharge a firearm in the city of Bessemer. I'll bet you that not every one of these people who are shooting has a gun permit either. Angry as HELL , I called and posed the aforementioned question to Officer Sunday who answered the phone. Her reply was this " Sir, do you have a photograph to prove what you saw"? I replied no, BUT I CAN GO TAKE ONE! So, I get my NYE kiss from my beautiful wife and we jump in the car with camera in hand. I get to the location and now there are only 5 cars there. I'm sure dispatch alerted them to scatter. I take the photos attatched to this email around 10 - 11 minutes after 12 and go back home. I'm thinking of sending this email to all local news venues as well as the mayor and city council.

[harry chickpea]

Pushing the river can be particularly unsatisfying. The gunfire in the air on New Year's eve is as ingrained as illegal fireworks. In south Florida, you could go from Homestead to West Palm and beyond and hear such stuff.

Realistically, there is a greater danger from one or two drunk drivers than any bullets shot straight up into the air.

[3am green coffee]

Originally Posted by Historic Bessemer

I'm thinking of sending this email to all local news venues as well as the mayor and city council.

Don't bother. I used to work in teevee news. They'll ignore you and consider you one of the kooks.

Gunfire that doesn't hit anybody is rarely newsworthy, and they'll assume you just heard fireworks. Besides that, the news cycle for that event has already passed. Your only chance to get this covered would have been New Years Day, when it was still a news story and not old information from a week ago. Even on 1/1 I doubt they would have paid any attention to you, because this is just not newsworthy information.

Sorry.

[Southlander]

Are you sure it was gunfire? We had fireworks going off all around us (we set some off, too!).

[Historic Bessemer]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Are you sure it was gunfire? We had fireworks going off all around us (we set some off, too!).

Oh yes, I know gunfire when I hear it!

[pvjd]

A couple of Halloweens ago there was a teen who was working at a haunted hayride, and he fired a gun into the air. The bullet ended up hitting and killing a little kid.

[bhamkaren]

yeah that boy went to my school. and i lived in bessemer for 4 years and on nye i would meet up with family at bright star or costa's to eat dinner then head home to my movies and bottles of champagne. like clockwork the gunshow would start at 1155 on to 1 am. lame tradition. thanks rednecks.

there is a distinction between a gun shot and a firecracker.

[contented]

just be patient HB and be ready for them next year and film every car and license plate and take it to the chief. see if you can get the date and time to appear on the pics/film and be sure your car is in perfect operating condition..........taillights, etc. if ya know what i mean