Crime in Jasper County, SC (Atlanta, Savannah: high crime, to buy, live)

[Newsboy]

I just saw a story on the 10 o'clock local news about the latest murder in Jasper County -- the 16th so far this year! This in a county with only 25,000 people! If you watch the news on a regular basis, you know that violent crime is common in Bluffton and Beaufort as well.

Savannah gets criticized quite a lot for its so-called "high crime rate" ... unfairly I believe. It's sad but worth pointing out that for whatever reason, violence is just a way of life for too many people in this area, even in rural areas of both Georgia and South Carolina. But it does not and should not define who we are. I know it doesn't me.

Thoughts?

[midgeorgiaman]

Unfortunately low class trash is far to prevalent in the south in general. Sad, but true. There are many wonderful things about the south, but the amount of poverty, welfare recepients, thugs, and trash isn't a bright spot. The best we can do is build on the positives, avoid the idiots and have a concealed carry permit just in case. I never had one of those prior to moving to GA, just seems helpful here!

In all seriousness, it doesn't define us. Savannah is just like any midsize southern city with a large number of sorry people who live off others and roam around aimlessly causing trouble, but when I visit Savannah, I don't go to those areas, i am not trying to buy drugs and so I have a wonderful visit and leave with thoughts of live oaks and spanish moss in my head.

Some people are always going to paint entire cities with a broad brush for whatever reason, but anybody with good sense knows that MLK and Bay St in front of Ruth's Chris are not the same. People do the same thing to Macon. By their standards, all of Midtown and Buckhead in Atlanta should be treated with the same caution as SW Atlanta and we all know that is hogwash. It is kind of sad how some folks only focus on the negative things in life. Their loss in my opinion.