2nd arrest made in UNC murder. Sure-let's blame "guns", while scumbags like this ARE OUT ON PAROLE!

[jmg257]

...
"Lawrence Alvin Lovette Jr., 17, was arrested by Durham patrol and SWAT officers several hours after they surrounded a home where he was hiding, said Durham police Lt. Robert McLaughlin Jr. Authorities had received an anonymous tip that Lovette was in the house, McLaughlin said.

Lovette and Demario James Atwater, 21, of Durham, are both charged with first-degree murder in Eve Carson's death. The 22-year-old from Athens, Ga., was found lying on a street about a mile from the Chapel Hill campus on March 5. She had been shot several times, including once in the right temple.

State records indicate both suspects are currently on parole. Lovette was given a suspended sentenced in January for misdemeanor larceny and breaking and entering. Atwater was convicted of felony breaking and entering in 2005 and illegal possession of a firearm in 2007. He also received a suspended sentence."


http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7434&eeid=5737100&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=3&ck=&ch=ne


Reports concerning gun violence consistently show that "most offenders have serious criminal histories". So let's stop blaming inanimate objects for these despicable events, and keep those fuckers actually responsible - the God-damn criminals - where they belong, and OFF THE STREETS; otherwise, these tragedies will never go away.

[billbuckhead]

1. But let's make sure they're as heavily armed as possible

That's why the USA leads all advanced nations in murder and gun crime.

[jmg257]

4. It is ILLEGAL for them to be armed. For some reason - they do not care!

It is also illegal to use a gun to commit a crime, and they DO NOT CARE. Probably because they are criminals! So let's MAKE SURE they don't have access to guns, or ANY OTHER dangerous instrument, by KEEPING THEM IN JAIL.

[elocs]

9. "That's why the USA leads all advanced nations in murder and gun crime. "

And we are proud as hell of that distinction. Yep, we need more guns. Any and everybody who can legally own a gun should be armed to the teeth and ready for a shootout at any time. It doesn't matter if it is churches or schools, we need more guns because you can never have too many guns. Let me say it again: GUNS, GUNS, GUNS...ooooh that feels good, almost an orgasmic moment.

[Jacobin]

20. If it were illegal for them to possess firearms, then they wouldn't.

Right?

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

26. Couple of points

1) If your the only nation that has guns the fact you lead in gun crime is about as statistically meaningless as you can get. If we were the only nation with automobiles we would lead in traffic deaths as well

2) This case in particular was up close and personal, two big guys intent on attacking and killing this young woman did not need a gun. This is the perfect 'would you feel better if they was pushed off of roofs' moment...

There is something violent about our culture and violent crime has been on the rise for years despite the fact that legally obtaining guns is more difficult now than it was 50 years ago..

[Wcross]

36. Hey DadOf2, don't waste your time with Bill on this issue.

Nothing you say will change his opinion about private gun ownership. Of course, nothing he has said has persuaded me he is right. I just wish I could have the time I wasted responding to his posts back. Trust me, you don't want to waste your valuable time.

[DrDan]

2. we are already keeping 1 out every 100 adults off the streets

and yes . . . I will continue to blame guns. the NRA, and politicians who pander to the NRA and the gun industry at the expense of these victims . . .

[jmg257]

6. So apprently 1/100 isn't enough. They are still murdering innocents, & even using guns to do so..

[depakid]

7. And attitudes like the OP's are yet another reason why this number will keep rising

along with increasing frequency of mass shootings and campus murders.

[slackmaster]

25. The problem is we're not keeping the right 1% locked up

:argh:

[mondo joe]

34. But they're the wrong 1 in 100. Pot smokers don't belong in jail, IMO.

People who are threats to the safety of others might.

[randr]

3. Everyone knows it is not the guns that kill people

It is the lack of enforcible regulations on the purchase and distribution of guns that allow scum bags to get them.

[Mountainman]

29. Scum bags will get guns no matter what the regulations. That's why they are scum bags.

I really think that to assume there is going to be a more peaceful society by passing more gun legislation is not living in reality. It may seem like you are doing something but you aren't.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. 17 years old

How sad.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

37. I agree

Sad that he got a suspended sentence and was out on the street carrying a gun ILLEGALLY and used that gun to kill a productive member of society. That is sad.

David

[Ian David]

8. The Atwater family in Durham contributes money to Republicans

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=jux4n&txtName=atwater&txtState=NC&txtAll=Y&Order=N

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Ugh

What the fuck is wrong with you?

[Lance_Boyle]

13. There are lots of Atwater families in Durham. n/t

[Ian David]

14. Ahh... might not be related to Lee Atwater, either?

http://www.nndb.com/people/019/000043887 http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/03/12/unc.arrest

Lee Atwater
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harvey Leroy "Lee" Atwater (February 26, 1951 – March 29, 1991) was a political consultant and strategist to the Republican party in the United States. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Newberry College, a small private Lutheran institution in Newberry, South Carolina.

Atwater was a trusted advisor of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He was also a political mentor and close friend of Karl Rove. Atwater invented or improved upon many of the techniques of modern electoral politics, including promulgating reputation-destroying rumors. His opponents have characterized him as the "happy hatchet man"<1> and "the Darth Vader of the Republican party".

Atwater was also a musician. He briefly played backup guitar for Percy Sledge during the 1960's, and frequently played with bluesmen such as B.B. King. Atwater recorded an album with King and others on Curb Records in 1990 entitled "Red Hot & Blue". His controversial life is the subject of the feature-length documentary film Boogie Man<1>.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Atwater

[Dreamer Tatum]

18. And someone witth your last name probably molests children n/t

[DainBramaged]

10. Just make sure they have enough guns to kill each other

:sarcasm:


I have decided I will now click the big red X on those who think that the flood of guns in this country has nothing to do with crime.

[underpants]

12. Jails are full of the DANGEROUS druggies

just saying

[stanwyck]

15. Good point. If we'd use some common sense

about who is in prison, we'd have more resources to keep the dangerous criminals confined. By sending thousands of drug users with no violent history to prison, we're costing the states (and taxpayers) billions.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

28. I totally agree

For years I was a strong prohibitionist on drugs and I am still on the fence (how we can have a war on tobacco at the same time we push legalization of weed confuses me) but I definatly thing sentencing guidelines need to be adjusted..

[-..__...]

16. Hugs for thugs.

Time to stop playing games with these wastes of skin.

At the very least, Atwater should have been serving hard and heavy time for being a felon in possession of a firearm back in 2007.

The NRA nor the firearms industry didn't have jack shit to do with the murder of that girl as some of the bedwetters here would like to claim... it was the shit stains that pulled the trigger that are solely responsible.

[Wcross]

17. Do you realize you just got a "red X" from braindamaged?

I think I got one last week, or at least he said he was going to give me one.

It is typical of that crowd, ignoring reality in hopes that guns will magically disappear from our country.

[-..__...]

21. I'm devastated.

Unfortunately, there are still many "braindamaged" deep thinkers in this world whose concept of reality is gleaned from watching old Star Trek episodes where the alien race exists in a peaceful crime free society. You know... one of those enlightened, blissful, conformist utopias where everyone wears natural fabrics, speaks in a prosaic monotone and Disney type woodland creatures mingle amongst the glassy eyed denizens... sort of like Berkley CA, except that alien world doesn't have rave parties or scrotal inflation rights advocates.

[Wcross]

22. I couldn't sleep for a week after I received mine.

Did you notice one of the poor criminals was arrested for illegal gun possession but the charges were DISMISSED? Uh, if the police won't enforce the gun laws on the books what is the point? That was the last chance to save Eve's life and the judicial system blew it. If he was prohibited from possessing a gun & was caught with one he should have been in prison for ten years like the law says. Instead it was dismissed and he killed a young woman. Oh, it is the fault of the gun. :sarcasm:

[-..__...]

27. Did you try masturbating to "gun porn"?

Usually if I find myself having a difficult time sleeping/tossing and turning at night, I find that picking up the latest issue of Shotgun News and a bottle of Outers Case Lube and satisfying myself to the ads for rocket launchers and suitcase nukes helps relieve the stress, guilt and shame of being accountable for all the crime and bloodshed in this country.

I'd imagine the same would work if suffering from the stigma of the dreaded red X?

[Wcross]

30. I can't masturbate anymore, it doesn't work ever since I substituted my penis.

with this;

Of course criminals laugh when I pull out my penis to defend myself?

Maybe I ought to swap them back?

[-..__...]

31. Quite honsetly...

If I was jacking someone up for their wallet and that person pointed their tool at me, I'd think twice about what I was doing and I'd be outta there lickity-split... a crazy mofo like that is capable of anything!

Unfortunately... in this case the victim had neither a firearm or penis to defend herself with.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

35. You could always get the

Codpiece gun from "Dusk Till Dawn"

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

19. Larceny and B&E is hardly a "serious criminal history"

It's a fucking misdemeanor, for crying out loud.

[Wcross]

23. What about "illegal possession of a firearm in 2007" ?

Is that serious? Oh, it was "dismissed" so it wasn't serious until he used a firearm to kill Eve. If gun violence is a problem why did that charge get dismissed? Seems like there WAS an opportunity to get that individual off the street but the judicial system blew it.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

32. Depending on the state...

Illegal possession could mean that he was under the age of 18 and in possession of a firearm.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but just how many people are we supposed to have in jail? The United States already incarcerates a higher percentage of its citizens than any other democractic society. Yet we have the highest rates of violent crime -- if incarceration leads to safety, this country should be all but crime-free.

[-..__...]

33. No.

Read it again...

State records indicate both suspects are currently on parole. Lovette was given a suspended sentenced in January for misdemeanor larceny and breaking and entering. Atwater was convicted of felony breaking and entering in 2005 and illegal possession of a firearm in 2007. He also received a suspended sentence."

He was convicted of a felony in 2005 (which under federal law prohibits him from possessing or owning any gun for life).

He was then arrested in 2007 for illegal possession of a firearm (i.e. a felon in possession of a firearm).

Ideally... he would have been prosecuted under federal law and convicted under federal sentencing guidelines (I can guarantee you... he wouldn't have been out roaming the streets in 2008... or probably 2012 or later for that matter).


"I don't necessarily disagree with you, but just how many people are we supposed to have in jail? The United States already incarcerates a higher percentage of its citizens than any other democractic society."

Ohhh... but we can rehabilitate him to be a functional and productive member of society. :eyes:

:nopity:

Mind you, my opinion only applies to violent felons and those who commit crimes involving property.

I agree 100% that the war on drugs is a failure and we need to find another alternative.

[Mountainman]

24. no gun law would keep guns out of the hands of these guys.

Only law abiding people obey gun laws.

Of course if you want to feel good that you really did something worth your while, pass laws taking guns away from law abiding people. You could still get shot by guys like these. Makes real logical sense doesn't it?

[Trailrider1951]

38. These scumbags are out on parole because of the prison space

taken up by the weed tokers and other casualties of the war on drugs, the bad check people who wrote paper to the grocery store to feed their kids, etc. This country is seriously f**ked up.