Gang Crimes on the Rise in University Park
Picture some intimidating gang members like these guys, add a few airguns and 3 UPPD SUVs screeching up on two wheels. Now you have a snapshot of the 3700 block of Caruth yesterday afternoon. Chief Gary Adams confirmed the crime spree.
Complaint of kids on trail bikes riding on the street and across lawns as well as shooting air guns.
My children=GUILTY. We ARE the Southside of Mockingbird. And Today–THEY RIDE! HP Crime Watch..beware!
Minus the bike, that was me last week killing squirrels in my front yard with a pellet gun.
Intimidating, especially the littlest one. Hope they stay off our street. Just in case, the marshmallow blasters are loaded and ready…
Riding across lawns? That’s no bueno.
The kids in the complaint are 14 and 15 . Trail bikes = motorcycles.They have an amazing command of expletives shouted at every car that passed. Airguns = pellets, paintballs, and a few shovels added for intimidation. It’s a supervision problem or lack thereof.
scaredinup, thanks for the 411. Lack of supervision indeed. I’m going to roll through that block and check out the warfare.
Once again disappointed in how the chief downplayed the incident. not just a complaint, it was REAL. He makes it sound like they were merely riding their bikes in the street. the neighbors will take video next time. Maybe You Tube will be the better solution
From the city of UP code:
Sec. 7.201 Discharge of Firearm or Air Gun Prohibited
A person commits an offense if he discharges within the city a firearm or air or gas operated rifle or pistol. It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the discharge of such weapon was authorized by a provision of the Penal Code of the State of Texas. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 7, Section 2A)
Sec. 7.202 Possession of Air or Gas Guns and Slingshots by Minors
A person under the age of seventeen (17) years commits an offense if he possesses or carries about his person an air or gas operated rifle or pistol, or slingshot, on or about property other than the usual residence of such person. A parent or legal guardian of a person under the age of seventeen (17) years commits an offense is he/she knowingly permits such minor person to engage in the conduct prohibited in the preceding sentence. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 7, Section 2B)
So where are the citations?
@scaredinup – that does sound scary.
Easy. I string a rope between two trees. As they come across my lawn, they’re de-biked. When they come to sue, I say I was hanging laundry. Punks.
upmom, some of those air SPRING operated and not air or gas. Are those legal?
IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES FOR AIR GUNS
Your airgun is dangerous and must be handled carefully!
Always remember that your airgun is not a toy! It is a real, functional gun. Always observe all of the proper handling and safety procedures of a live firearm. Before you shoot any airgun, read and understand the instruction manual and all of the airgun’s functions. It is essential that all airgun users understand the proper handling and functions of their airguns. For more information on gun safety or training, contact the NRA at 703-267-1430. If you don’t understand, or are not sure about the use of an airgun or firearm feel free to email us.
Always Observe The Following Safety Rules:
Learn how to handle, load, unload, operate, fire and care for your airgun.
NEVER PLAY with your airgun. It is a potentially dangerous weapon that can cause serious harm or death.
Always keep the airgun pointed in a safe direction, NEVER point any weapon loaded or unloaded, at any person or anything you do not intend to shoot. Always keep you airgun unloaded until ready to fire and make sure that it is unloaded before cleaning.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you are actually aiming at the target and ready to shoot.
Never rely on an airgun’s “safety” to protect you from unsafe handling. A safety is a mechanical device, not a substitute for common sense and good safety procedures.
Never leave a airgun unattended or where it could fail and fire.
If an airgun is hit sharply or dropped, damage to the internal precision mechanism may result in an accidental firing.
Store airguns and pellets separately beyond the reach of children. Make sure the airgun and pellets are locked and secured so children and untrained individuals will be denied access.
Know your target and what is beyond. Ask yourself what your pellet will hit if it misses.
Daisy Outdoor Products’ Ten Shooting Safety Rules:
1. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. There are several safe “carries” depending on the situation. NEVER ALLOW THE MUZZLE TO POINT IN THE DIRECTION OF A PERSON.
2. Treat every gun as if it were loaded. You can never be positive that you were the last person to handle the gun. Never take anyone’s word about whether or not a gun is loaded. Always check a gun to see if it is loaded when removed from storage or received from another person. ALWAYS TREAT A GUN AS IF IT IS LOADED EVEN IF YOU KNOW IT ISN’T.
3. Only load or cock a gun when you are shooting. A loaded gun has no place in your home or other place.
4. Check your target and beyond your target. Be sure all persons are well clear of the target area before you shoot. Check behind and beyond your target to be certain you have a safe backstop and that no person or property could be endangered.
5. Anyone shooting or near a shooter should wear shooting glasses. Also, all other persons should remain behind the shooter.
6. Never climb or jump with a gun. You can’t control the direction of the muzzle if you stumble or fall. You should safely lay the gun down or hand it to a companion while you climb or jump over anything.
7. Avoid ricochet. Never shoot at a flat hard surface or at the surface of water. Ammunition can ricochet off of water just like a skipped rock.
8. Keep the muzzle clear. Never let anything obstruct the muzzle of a gun. Don’t allow the muzzle to come in contact with the ground.
9. Guns not in use should always be unloaded. Keeping guns unloaded when not in use is critical to the safety of you and others. When you are finished shooting, put the trigger safety in the “on” position and unload the gun. Store guns so that they are inaccessible to untrained shooters and store ammunition separately from the gun.
10. Respect other people’s property. Whether you’re target shooting or hunting, if you’re a guest on others’ land, you should leave it exactly as you found it..
Spring operated are the same as others
UPMOM,
Where am I quoted as saying anything about this matter. I confirmed that we had complaints about kids illegally riding their dirt bikes in the area and across neighbors yards and that there were reports of air guns being discharged as well. I never down played any of this and after receiving complaints directed officers to patrol the area closer and address the neighbors concerns. I can assure you that I haven’t down played the matter and spent several hours with the city attorney and council on drafting an ordinance prohibiting the operation of certain scooters etc on city steets or sidewalks.
Spring operated is not considered an air gun unless it is a BB gun.
Gary W. Adams
Chief of Police
Thank you Chief for clarifying. I apologize for misreading the meaning of the posted statement – without “tone” sometimes email or blogs don’t convey correctly.
We greatly appreciate your work drafting and the councils work passing ordinances, but it seems enforcement is harder to achieve.
What do you need from the community to help the patrolmen better enforce these rules and laws?
Spring, air, or gas: I think that the commonsense guidelines apply to all. Waving around any type of gun in the streets is wrong. Well, maybe a nerfgun is ok.
UPMOM,
No apology needed! I just wanted to assure you and everyone else that we are aware of this issue and working on it.
By calling 911 when you see these activities occurring you can help us alot.
We will continue to have officers monitor the area and take appropriate actions.
Thanks
Gary W. Adams
Chief of Police
Upmom,
If you’re so taken aback by the actions of these children, maybe you should go talk to the kids yourself (note: I said talk to, not yell at) instead of wasting city resources by calling the police and crying out for citations against these children?