Hang 'Em High In Texas

[posse comatosis]

In Houston, a hint of vigilantism emerges in the Hispanic community, where right is still right and wrong is still wrong, and a sizable portion of the community still knows the difference. Any DA who even remotely hopes to win the next election is forced by politics to tread lightly on these voters.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7347027.html

 

[ejt1469]

hint of vigilantism

Self-defence and protecting your property is not vigilantism (the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands).

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Huh?

 

[oleheat]

Self-defence and protecting your property is not vigilantism (the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands).

I agree. "Vigilantism" brings up images of lynchmobs dragging suspects from their jail cells..... That certainly doesn't apply here.

 

[Yrdawg]

I worked several years in Houston for several alarm companies, we responded to alarms along with HPD

I can without hesitation tell you the PoPo were not gun shy, and they weren't gun shy for us, we carried shotguns and handguns, the cops had no problem with that or with us using what it took to apprehend if we were first
I'd say that at least then, Houston was HARD on crime

In SE Houston ( described in the article ) I saw lots of police encounters with non compliant burglars and robbers, several times the tax payers were spared a trial, no bones about it , just handled up on.

It's been a while, but it sounds like they're still takin a bite outta crime

 

[leVieux]

Many years ago, in the '70's, when John Holmes was the Houston - Harris county D.A. the chain of Pilgrim Dry cleaners was plagued by numerous armed robberies.
The owner decided to put big one-way glass windows over all of the counter service areas, with armed guards with riot guns behind the glass. Their instructions were to kill all armed robbers, on the spot; no notice or warning.
The robberies stopped immmediately.
But the local "Reverends" complained to Holmes about the tactic. Holmes' response was that all armed robbbers should be shot on the spot, and that he approved of Pilgrim's arrangements..
The whole thing eventually blew over, but the robberies never re-started.

leVieux

 

[Yrdawg]

Many years ago, in the '70's, when John Holmes was the Houston - Harris county D.A. the chain of Pilgrim Dry cleaners was plagued by numerous armed robberies.
The owner decided to put big one-way glass windows over all of the counter service areas, with armed guards with riot guns behind the glass. Their instructions were to kill all armed robbers, on the spot; no notice or warning.
The robberies stopped immmediately.
But the local "Reverends" complained to Holmes about the tactic. Holmes' response was that all armed robbbers should be shot on the spot, and that he approved of Pilgrim's arrangements..
The whole thing eventually blew over, but the robberies never re-started.

leVieux

Just no other way to deal with the problems Houston has with crime...IIRC when I left in 1983 the murder rate was 3 per day per day

 

[posse comatosis]

Their instructions were to kill all armed robbers, on the spot; no notice or warning.

LOL. Sounds like a hint of vigilantism in that.

I always wondered a little about the sanity of John Holmes when I was Houston resident in seventies. But the guy sure put 'em away. Death row was his preferred destination for the recipients of Texas justice.

It wasn't long after we left Bayou City in '77 that three black guys walked into a Dennys I used to frequent on I-45 North near Greenspoint in broad daylight and killed seven patrons during an armed robbery. The only thing I ever missed about that place was the catfishing in Lake Houston. And the white bass. And the sac-a-lait. You wouldn't believe that a mere stone's throw from Intercontinental Airport there was such fishing as that.

 

[Yrdawg]

I do not miss the place...at all

When I had to drive through there a few years ago it was scary, i thought I used to love this place ( lived there 13 years )...no more

Leaving there was like taking a big dump after Mexican Food, ...and never having lived in NOLA I'd say that would prolly be true there too, visits , drive thrus and news tell me more than I want to know.

 

[posse comatosis]

i thought I used to love this place ( lived there 13 years )...no more

Yea, it's funny how the place worked up on you when it was still basically a little country town focused on oil and gas. But then came the Hispanic invasion and Globalization all at once, and oh, Jesus.

 

[MCOLT1911]

Many years ago, in the '70's, when John Holmes was the Houston - Harris county D.A. the chain of Pilgrim Dry cleaners was plagued by numerous armed robberies.
The owner decided to put big one-way glass windows over all of the counter service areas, with armed guards with riot guns behind the glass. Their instructions were to kill all armed robbers, on the spot; no notice or warning.
The robberies stopped immmediately.
But the local "Reverends" complained to Holmes about the tactic. Holmes' response was that all armed robbbers should be shot on the spot, and that he approved of Pilgrim's arrangements..
The whole thing eventually blew over, but the robberies never re-started.

leVieux

What better deterant to violent crime than to say, "if you attempt to rob my business you will, without a doubt contract high speed lead poisioning."

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

In 1977 Houston was the 8th Largest City in the Country. Real small town oil patch....Do you even read the stuff you post or is it just stream of conscious?

 

[mrmojo32]

Many years ago, in the '70's, when John Holmes was the Houston - Harris county D.A. the chain of Pilgrim Dry cleaners was plagued by numerous armed robberies.
The owner decided to put big one-way glass windows over all of the counter service areas, with armed guards with riot guns behind the glass. Their instructions were to kill all armed robbers, on the spot; no notice or warning.
The robberies stopped immmediately.
But the local "Reverends" complained to Holmes about the tactic. Holmes' response was that all armed robbbers should be shot on the spot, and that he approved of Pilgrim's arrangements..
The whole thing eventually blew over, but the robberies never re-started.

leVieux

John Holmes always knew how to fight crime in the 70's !!!!

 

[rebelray84]

John Holmes always knew how to fight crime in the 70's !!!!

That's funny I was thinking the same thing!

DA by day porn star at night!

 

[mrmojo32]

LOL... I am surprised Snookie did not jump on that before I did!

 

[Yrdawg]

LOL... I am surprised Snookie did not jump on that before I did!

Snookie jumpin on John Holmes...theres a new level of wrong in there somehow

 

[EJAIII]

I'm working in Houston quite often these days. I think it looks more like a border town than a city located in the heart of the state.

 

[Doug.38PR]

Sounds like Charles Bronsen needs to take a stroll through their neighborhood