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Laws need to be changed so that judges stop letting these thugs out on bond. The criminals usually gradually get worse with their crimes. The City of Columbia is probably going to take the Richland County sheriff up on his offer to staff gang specialists in the area. They have intense training in how to recognize and anticipate trouble makers and the problems they bring.
More has to be done on the preventive end, too. Who are these thugs? They were once innocent babies. Where are their parents after they commit these crimes? What do they have to say about how their offspring got so out of control?
I think this crime has to do with drugs. The shooter looks like he is strung out on drugs. Most gun crimes are drug related. I wish there was a way to make it harder for people to get access to drugs.
The answer might be the opposite. Treat them for their addiction versus spend money trying to stop them from getting something they need/want so they revert to crime to fulfill their needs.
I hate to agree with Gsupstate as it usually means I have not thought through an issue. But, I agree with this. Carolina should pressure CPD, 5Points, the neighbors and anyone with an interest at 5Points. President Pastides should encourage other student activities or anything that will focus student away from this area until folks get the message that noting is working. Crime happens in all cities, a CofC student was recently killed, but, this is getting old. And, I don't want Columbia's inability to control thugs to hurt Carolina.
Maybe the city should tax the heck out of the bars in this area that causes the most trouble and drive them out. I don't have an answer. If nothing works, bulldoze the place and make a park.
Five Points used to be a swamp until they filled it in and built a village. We might see what downtown and the Vista are like with the Five Points crowd added in. What's to keep the thugs from following the crowd? So to me it's not a place issue, but a social one. Thugs reside everywhere across this state. They need to be put away and not let out over and over. That's a state law issue.
The answer might be the opposite. Treat them for their addiction versus spend money trying to stop them from getting something they need/want so they revert to crime to fulfill their needs.
Indeed. Making it harder for people to find drugs means that people will go to greater, more desperate, more expensive, more criminal means to find drugs, and suppliers will go to the same means to provide them.
based on the time I spent at USC and in Five Points the issue that five points faces now isn't one of funding or needing a bigger police presence in the area, it is simply one of the police officers down there doing their jobs.
During my time there it appeared to me that the cops were focused almost solely on chatting together in the parking lot of the exxon station (and out front of of the other convenience store on the other side of harden), catching people who were drinking underage, or harassing those who were not bothering anyone. I can only think of once where the cops down there actually intervened in an actual incident (two guys who got into a fight out in front of a bar) and it took them a while to get there even though they weren't that far away the entire time the altercation was happening.
Not once did I ever feel there was a problem with a lack of police, just a problem with the police actually paying attention to dangerous situations.
based on the time I spent at USC and in Five Points the issue that five points faces now isn't one of funding or needing a bigger police presence in the area, it is simply one of the police officers down there doing their jobs.
During my time there it appeared to me that the cops were focused almost solely on chatting together in the parking lot of the exxon station (and out front of of the other convenience store on the other side of harden), catching people who were drinking underage, or harassing those who were not bothering anyone. I can only think of once where the cops down there actually intervened in an actual incident (two guys who got into a fight out in front of a bar) and it took them a while to get there even though they weren't that far away the entire time the altercation was happening.
Not once did I ever feel there was a problem with a lack of police, just a problem with the police actually paying attention to dangerous situations.
There are certainly those cops that stand around and chat in parking lots, especially that exxon parking lot. I recall there were two cops sitting in their patrol car and calling out to "jaywalkers" on their loud speaker... It seemed pretty effective because pretty much everyone that tried to cross stopped in their tracks and retreated back to the sidewalk and eventually made their way down to a cross walk... It was a bit humorous too, I must say. There are at least 2 cops that actually have a "beat", that is, actually are on foot patrolling the sidewalks and entrances to the bars. This is definitely effective. This was a few years ago, but these cops would actually not allow people to stop and stand around, they would force you to keep walking- which is smart because when you get groups which turn into crowds there's no telling what's being said and who's getting ready to sucker punch or shoot someone. Don't know if they still have these "beat" cops, but I certainly think they should incorporate some more if they haven't already.
I'm surprised the bad neighborhood near Five Points hasn't started undergoing some gentrification yet.
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