Police stymied by disorganized crime
Police are at something of a loss dealing with disorganized crime. The people popping caps in our streets aren’t the Mafia, whose structure and rules are well understood, part of urban mythology at least since The Godfather. These guys are young, unpredictable and hard to pin down. Just as a middle-aged person isn’t going to understand the slang, music or concerns of most late adolescents, they’re not going to understand why the kids want to carry a handgun and occasionally use it.
I find myself wondering not so much where the kids are getting guns, as where they get their ammunition.
dwgs 10:04 on 2021-12-01 Permalink
The ammunition comes from the same place as the guns.
Kate 10:19 on 2021-12-01 Permalink
For starters, yes. But you use up ammunition, and your source for your gun wasn’t a stable storefront somewhere, it’s some guy you know, who may or may not be available when you run out.
Or can you just order bullets online?
Blork 11:42 on 2021-12-01 Permalink
I wondered the same thing, but I suspect most of these kids walking around with off-brand Glocks aren’t exactly spending their days on target practice. As in, they maybe fire them once or twice to get a feel for it, and that’s it until there’s a gunfight or a random potshot somewhere. So that 17-round clip that came with the package spends most of its life in-place and is pretty much never emptied.
After all, these guns are used primarily for waving around (i.e., dick waving) and less so for actual shooting.
Uatu 11:45 on 2021-12-01 Permalink
I like Chris Rock’s idea of making bullets 1000bucks each. That way thugs would have to decide if capping someone is worth the price 😛
JS 12:37 on 2021-12-01 Permalink
Any idea how much guns cost on the black market? Where are high school kids getting the money to buy them? Do the kids own their own guns, or are there community armorers that lend or rent them out?
Kate 14:19 on 2021-12-01 Permalink
I have a feeling a guy (and it’s always a guy, sorry) doesn’t directly pay for the gun, but gets it in return for services rendered, or to be rendered in future.
Even in the more established gangs, a whole lot runs on obligation. It knits the whole thing together. For example: a friend of mine comes from a Sicilian family. He was starting a business. His dad, who was not mobbed up but drank coffee occasionally with guys who were, told him “Son, if anyone does you a dirty trick in your business, you just let me know. I know guys who can help you get even.” But my friend told his father never to do anything of the sort, because he knew that if those guys provided help, it would be on the understanding he would be expected at some point to return the favour.