There’s a word for what happened inside a Dunkin Donuts store in the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia yesterday.
Assassination.
Veteran Police Officer Charles Cassidy, the married father of three, never had a chance. He walked into a robbery in progress. And was gunned down seconds later, never having an opportunity to go for his weapon. He is now clinging to life in the hospital.
It is eerily similar to what happened to Officer Gary Skerski. Much like Cassidy, Skerski entered a bar during a holdup back in May 2006. He paid for it with his life, when the robber opened fire on him without warning at close range, striking him in the throat.
Ironically, the gunman in that case, a former Darby Township resident named Solomon Montgomery, was in court Tuesday to be sentenced. He told Skerski’s family he was sorry. He’ll have the rest of his life behind bars to think about it.
A few hours after Montomery was sentenced, still another officer was shot in the ankle during a confrontation in the city.
In total, there have now been four Philadelphia police officers shot in just over a month. Officers have been fired on 29 times so far this year, as the homicide rate in the city soared over 300.
This isn’t Philadelphia, and it sure isn’t the City of Brotherly Love. This is the Wild, Wild West.
It seems like it’s open season on cops. And it seems like every disagreement, no matter how minor, is now decided with a gun.
The city, in fact the entire region, is now simply shaking its head, wondering who will be next and what can be done to stop this mindless violence.
One place to look would be Harrisburg, where legislators have consistently turned a deaf ear to every effort to get a grip on the avalanche of guns that has poured into the city.
The fact is, no one is safe in the city. Not citizens, nor the police officers who take a vow to protect them.
And guns are a big reason for it. Yes, I believe people have a right to own a gun. But I also think the 2nd Amendment was never intended to protect the kind of insanity playing out every day on our streets.
The time has come. Enough is enough.
Is anyone in Harrisburg listening?
*
No doubt Andy Reid today will be hip-deep in preparation for Sunday night’s prime-time matchup with the Cowboys.
I’m guessing he will not be at the Mongtomery County Courthouse.
But his two sons will be.
Both Britt and Garrett Reid are due to be sentenced for incidents involving cars and drugs last January. Both have had problems since then. And both have spent the last few days in prison after straying even after entering pleas on the initial charges.
The incident involving Britt Reid involved a road-rage incident in which police said he brandished a gun at another motorist after some kind of confrontation.
That other driver happened to be from Springfield. He’s expected to tell his side in court today before Britt Reid is sentenced.
We’ll let you know what he has to say.
Assassination.
Veteran Police Officer Charles Cassidy, the married father of three, never had a chance. He walked into a robbery in progress. And was gunned down seconds later, never having an opportunity to go for his weapon. He is now clinging to life in the hospital.
It is eerily similar to what happened to Officer Gary Skerski. Much like Cassidy, Skerski entered a bar during a holdup back in May 2006. He paid for it with his life, when the robber opened fire on him without warning at close range, striking him in the throat.
Ironically, the gunman in that case, a former Darby Township resident named Solomon Montgomery, was in court Tuesday to be sentenced. He told Skerski’s family he was sorry. He’ll have the rest of his life behind bars to think about it.
A few hours after Montomery was sentenced, still another officer was shot in the ankle during a confrontation in the city.
In total, there have now been four Philadelphia police officers shot in just over a month. Officers have been fired on 29 times so far this year, as the homicide rate in the city soared over 300.
This isn’t Philadelphia, and it sure isn’t the City of Brotherly Love. This is the Wild, Wild West.
It seems like it’s open season on cops. And it seems like every disagreement, no matter how minor, is now decided with a gun.
The city, in fact the entire region, is now simply shaking its head, wondering who will be next and what can be done to stop this mindless violence.
One place to look would be Harrisburg, where legislators have consistently turned a deaf ear to every effort to get a grip on the avalanche of guns that has poured into the city.
The fact is, no one is safe in the city. Not citizens, nor the police officers who take a vow to protect them.
And guns are a big reason for it. Yes, I believe people have a right to own a gun. But I also think the 2nd Amendment was never intended to protect the kind of insanity playing out every day on our streets.
The time has come. Enough is enough.
Is anyone in Harrisburg listening?
*
No doubt Andy Reid today will be hip-deep in preparation for Sunday night’s prime-time matchup with the Cowboys.
I’m guessing he will not be at the Mongtomery County Courthouse.
But his two sons will be.
Both Britt and Garrett Reid are due to be sentenced for incidents involving cars and drugs last January. Both have had problems since then. And both have spent the last few days in prison after straying even after entering pleas on the initial charges.
The incident involving Britt Reid involved a road-rage incident in which police said he brandished a gun at another motorist after some kind of confrontation.
That other driver happened to be from Springfield. He’s expected to tell his side in court today before Britt Reid is sentenced.
We’ll let you know what he has to say.
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