Three shot Downtown after fireworks show. (Pittsburgh: crimes, houses, gated)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

So were all of the gunshot wound victims targeted specifically? None were "innocent bystanders"?
Seemed to be quite crowded where this happened, must have been petrifying for the people in the vicinity of the shots even if it was allegedly a "targeted incident".

Fact of the matter is, when we live in a society which lets people have both the right to bear arms and general freedom of movement, the only thing stopping someone from opening fire when in a crowded public place is whatever internalized social norms said person has absorbed.

[Geeo]

Maybe he was a "good guy with a gun" shooting a "bad guy with a gun." It's so hard to tell, since practically everybody can be a "good guy with a gun" until they pull the trigger.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Merge

I have trouble believing that you have been physically harassed around the Wood Street station.

I can speak from experience that I was verbally harassed for no reason in front of that station about 2 weeks ago following the Pirates-Giants game that luckily didn't escalate further than some yelling on the sidewalk as the aggressors shirked away after being confronted on it.

Obviously I survived but any mayor that doesn't know this is perpetually a problem area, does little to improve it & is suprised someone got shot there apparently clueless.

[ferraris]

Not the most reliable source, but according to the comments on the reddit thread at least one of the victims was just a bystander.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Fact of the matter is, when we live in a society which lets people have both the right to bear arms and general freedom of movement, the only thing stopping someone from opening fire when in a crowded public place is whatever internalized social norms said person has absorbed.

General freedom of movement is definitely an issue as most of these incidents are performed by repeat offenders and the weapons are stolen.

[ny789987]

I know this may be politically incorrect to say, but the city needs to get to the bottom of why so many shady people hang out on that corner. One police cruiser isn't going to cut it. Whether it is moving the welfare office, or changing the way in which the buses are routed so that the welfare types need not wind up there. Like it or not, the golden triangle is center stage for the city and region. Shootings there, especially during high profile events, can garner national attention and can potentially harm the livelihood of the hundreds of thousands of people in the region, many of whom are already struggling. No city need place its trash and dirty laundry front and center. It's all about putting best foot forward.

[bluecarebear]

Isolated incident? What about those punks with guns at the basketball court? This sounds like the same criminal crowd. Pittsburgh has a problem with youth and violence. The police have got to get tough or this will spiral out of control.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Fact of the matter is, when we live in a society which lets people have both the right to bear arms and general freedom of movement, the only thing stopping someone from opening fire when in a crowded public place is whatever internalized social norms said person has absorbed.

Unless the shooter had prior weapons violations (& either way was likely illegally carrying) then I place the blame equally on whoever let him off easily.

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by ny789987

I know this may be politically incorrect to say, but the city needs to get to the bottom of why so many shady people hang out on that corner. One police cruiser isn't going to cut it. Whether it is moving the welfare office, or changing the way in which the buses are routed so that the welfare types need not wind up there. Like it or not, the golden triangle is center stage for the city and region. Shootings there, especially during high profile events, can garner national attention and can potentially harm the livelihood of the hundreds of thousands of people in the region, many of whom are already struggling. No city need place its trash and dirty laundry front and center. It's all about putting best foot forward.

Agreed. Welfare qualifications and requirements need to be overhauled.

I'm tired of seeing individuals arrested that have been to the courthouse multiple times. And it's not only in Allegheny County. The drugs and thugs are coming to the region mainly from Cleveland.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

Isolated incident? What about those punks with guns at the basketball court? This sounds like the same criminal crowd. Pittsburgh has a problem with youth and violence. The police have got to get tough or this will spiral out of control.

Many defend that they're misunderstood youth who can't trust the police...and they know it. The police are often portrayed as the bad guy who do nothing but harass and treat them unfairly. Unfortunately, by the time they get a slap on the wrist or 2 they've moved onto even more violence...especially when they see those who have already committed the same crime received all but no punishment for it.