Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 6-17-22

Police To Host Violent Crime Forum
In response to a rash of violent crime that has taken place in recent weeks. The Tampa Police Department will be hosting a Violent Crime Forum. The event will take place on Friday, June 17, beginning at 6 p.m. "We look at this opportu- nity as a Community Roll Call', a larger version of the Front Porch Roll Call program we currently offer", Chief Mary O'Connor said.
The event will be held at N. 15th Street and E. 26th Avenue, which is inside one of the violent crime hotspots displayed during a press confe- rence. Everyone in the community is invited to participate.
The message is clear. “If you have a warrant, are carrying a gun illegally, or are committing a crime in Tampa, Chief O'Connor said, "The heat is on.”
Tampa Police recently completed a warrant roundup, that was planned and implemented over the course of a month, resulting in the arrest of 69 subjects across the city for warrants ranging from burglary to armed robbery.
"This was only one step in our Safer Summer Initiative," said Chief O'Connor said.
"It’s time for action. Based on the tips and calls we get from residents, the diligent work of our of- ficers, and the feedback we have heard so far, everyone in this city is demonstrating that our combined actions make for a safer city."
Chief Mary O’Connor held a press conference after the double shootings last week.
Community concerns also led to Tampa Po- lice initiating a criminal investigation at the Alamo Motel that resulted in two guns being re- covered and six subjects being arrested on mul- tiple drug charges, including armed trafficking.
If you would like to host a Roll Call in your neighborhood, go to tampa.gov/police/pro- grams and select Front Porch Roll Call. Tampa Police officers will be available to talk about safety tips, current crime trends and recent inci- dents in the area, while building positive relation- ships with residents in the neighborhood.
Who Do They Listen To?
While Congress bickers over how to fool Americans into believing they are enacting meaningful gun laws, American citizens accept the fact that there will be no law to increase the age from 18-21 in order to pur- chase a gun; there will be no ban on the purchase of as- sault style rifles and high-capacity magazines, and there will be no universal background checks for all gun sales.
In actuality, we are being ruled by a minority of peo- ple, and we who are part of the majority need to vote to send every member of Congress who does not support these three gun restrictions on a long vacation at home. Why? Because they do not vote in favor of the majority of Americans’ wishes.
Here are issues voted upon during numerous polls done by reputable organizations, nonprofit and private. Hopefully this will show you in few paragraphs that Con- gress does not consider how the majority of Americans feel about four key issues (gun laws, taxing the wealthy, abortion rights, and LGBTQ discrimination).
Gun laws: Sixty seven (67) percent of Americans sup- port banning assault style automatic guns; 88% support implementing universal background checks for all gun sales (held up by Republican Senate); and 74% support raising the age to legally purchase guns. More than 75% of Americans support a national database for information on each gun sale.
Taxing the wealthy and corporations: Sixty one (61) percent of Americans want the wealthy and corporations to pay more taxes. Loopholes available to wealthy Amer- icans and corporations are not available to regular citi- zens. Those earning $540,000 or more paid 40% of all federal income taxes.
Abortion Rights: Fifty-nine (59) percent of Americans said abortions should be equal, while between 52% and 66% of American adults support the Roe vs. Wade deci- sion.
LGBTQ Discrimination: At least 75% of Americans sup- port LGBTQ non-discrimination law.
The majority of American voters need to wake up and exercise their power and vote against every member of Congress who does not support these laws. There is no reason voters can’t make Congress vote in favor of the majority’s opinions. Only then will they respect the will of people.
Editorial Local
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022