Tale of Two Cities: Thieves in Youngstown? Get a dog; In Charleston? Get a gun!

Youngstown Police have been diligently working to solve a rash of burglaries in the Brownlee Woods and Buckeye Circle areas of the city, police officials assured members of a local block watch.

City Councilman John Nittoli, D-7th, block watch president, said there had been six or seven home burglaries in the area since Christmas. He urged residents to be alert and call police when they see suspicious people or activity in the neighborhood.

Block watch members said an active block watch is an important defense against future burglaries. "Having neighbors looking out for each other is the best defense," said Allison Mallow, who also advocates dog ownership and home security alarm systems.

Meanwhile, in a state that allows its law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense, a shockingly different plan of theft deterrence is suggested by a nationally recognized police chief:

Charleston (SC) Police Chief Reuben Greenberg, several Charleston police officers and Charleston County sheriff's deputies, to discuss protection against a rash of robberies and burglaries along a stretch of Folly Road.

Greenberg told them that robberies, burglaries and rapes are a fact of life for communities across the country. "There is never going to be zero crime. We can only work to reduce those that happen," he said.

He said one particular downtown business in a high-crime area hasn't been held up in 20 years because the owner and employees, including the guy mopping the floor, are armed.

• Could the lifting of Ohio's unconstitutional ban on carrying a concealed weapon for self-defense save the next intended victim?

• Would a proposed ban on the legal purchase or ownership of some types of larger capacity firearms in Youngstown further prevent these families from protecting themselves?

Contact information for the area's elected officials is provided below:

State House of Representatives
• >Rep. Sylvester Patton (D-60) - consistent anti-CCW voter
Phone: (614) 466-9435
Fax: (614) 644-9494

State Senate
• >Sen. Robert Hagan (D-33) - voted against Sub. HB274
Phone: (614) 466-8285

Youngstown Mayor's Office:
• Mayor George McKelvy
Phone: (330) 742-8701

Other Youngstown Officials:
• Law Director John McNally
Phone: (330) 742-8874
• Police Chief Robert Bush
Phone: (330) 742-8921 (office)
• Youngstown Police Department
Phone: (330) 742-8900

- Youngstown's Mayor George McKelvy, Police Chief Robert Bush, and Law Director John McNally are pushing yet again for a complete ban on so-called "assault weapons" in Youngstown.

Youngstown Council Chambers:
Phone: (330) 742-8709 (Ask for your council person)

Click here to read the entire story from the Youngstown Vindicator.

When calling, make sure you tell everyone you speak to that Youngstown is clearly not in the financial position to be sued by grassroots gun rights organizations over unconstitutional assault rifle legislation, and then be forced to pay the lawyers fees of those who sue them. Youngstown is already in financial distress, they can't afford to be sued and lose an issue that has already been decided in the courts numerous times. If you live in the area, contact >Rick @ [email protected] to locally coordinate attending council meetings in groups.