Published on philly.com, (Philadelphia Daily News) on December 31, 2012:
http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-31/news/36081170_1_gun-laws-law-enforcement-new-gun-legislation 

Guns, common sense, 'low-hanging fruit'

POSTED: December 31, 2012

AS A FORMER law-enforcement officer, homeland security inspector and intelligence analyst for both federal and municipal jurisdictions (and a law-abiding registered voter), I have written to my elected officials to plead for their support in common-sense solutions to recent rising trends in violent crime, to include tragedies such as the mass-murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

As a citizen with a specific skill set in crime suppression, I believe in the inalienable right to self-defense, and am aware of the statistical disparities between crimes committed by legal, responsible gun owners and those who succumb to criminality or are afflicted with a mental-health disorder.

The undisputable facts are that an operable, maintained firearm will last well over 100 years, and there are currently more than 270 million firearms in private circulation throughout the United States. Therefore, I asked my political leaders, as educated men of public service: "How will newer, more-stringent gun laws prevent future attacks or violent crimes committed by those who have no intention to abide by even the current set of laws regulating firearms in our nation and states?"

I am keenly aware of the fact that in a city of 329 homicides (thus far) this year; a police officer may not always be here when I need one. Therefore, I believe in a responsible citizen's right to keep and bear arms, for self-defense, and believe (from experience) that the type of weapon possessed has little importance over the quality of the individual in possession of that weapon.

I urge my leaders to dismiss the popular, yet baseless concept that firearms themselves equate to violent crime. I believe that instead of spending their valuable time and our needed tax dollars on arguing new gun legislation, that time and money would be better invested in new strategies for security, law enforcement and mental-health treatment.

I offer my support and assistance in identifying the "low-hanging fruit" to protect our citizenry and enforce the law in an efficient, effective manner, to include:

* Professional recruitment, training, and equipment for school police (who, in places like Philadelphia and New York, are currently not certified/armed police officers, despite their name and funding, necessitating a redundant detail of city police at high-risk schools).

* Legislation for a HIPAA-compliant (or modifications to HIPAA) State Mental Health Treatment Database, to tie mandatory notifications from medical and mental-health professionals to law enforcement when someone is undergoing mental-health treatment (to include outpatient treatment when pharmacological intervention is required), who can cross-check files with firearms registration (and requests to buy new weapons).

* More law-enforcement officers specializing in critical infrastructure protection (like the Los Angeles General Services Police and D.C. Protective Services Division, for which Philadelphia currently has no equivalent).

* Zero-tolerance enforcement and heightened sentences for illegal weapons offenses or other crimes where a firearm was used or recovered, similar to "Face 5" in Georgia or "Project Exile" in Virginia.

* Increased funding, recruitment, and support for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and its task forces, so that more investigations and prosecutions can be conducted for interstate smuggling and straw-purchasing operations for illegal firearms.

* Legislation requiring safes or strongboxes for legal firearms owners when the weapon is not secured on their person.

* Legislation requiring training in the safe handling, retention and use of a firearm for any civilian owner.

* Training for workplaces and schools in recognizing and reporting abnormal behavior, and an early-intervention tipline.

I am making a desperate plea to my fellow citizens to force our political leaders at all levels to begin a meaningful and effective discussion that would have an immediate impact on violent crime in America. Let's see if they take me up on my offer - or opt for the politically popular "kicking of the can down the road."

A. Benjamin Mannes

Port Richmond

Today, the CityPaper released a story citing a page that provided details that point to Council President Clarke's Daughter and her spouse being arrested for possession with intent to distribute a whopping 176 grams of cocaine.  Furthermore, the Daughter's arrest just "disappeared" from the docket - strings that can only have been pulled through ranking members of the Seth Williams District Attorney's Office.

If this is true, this isn't just unethical politics, it's actual corruption involving the Council leadership and District Attorney. We need checks and balances in local politics, because it is absolutely wrong for the Council President to be this close to a drug dealer and possibly covering up for one.

This is not Detroit, DC, or Baltimore.

We deserve better.

I hope two things can come from this scandal coming to light:

1. The FBI and US Attorney immediately investigate Clarke and Williams to see if there was illicit intervention into a criminal prosecution, and
2. That the good, law abiding voters of Philadelphia say ENOUGH and vote for Danny Alvarez for DA and Terry Tracy for Controller to bring in some watchdogs from OUTSIDE the political machine where SO MANY scandals have arose in recent history!

Click here to read the CityPaper story:
http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Clarke-DA-daughter-coke-arrest.html?&c=

President Teddy Roosevelt said: "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."

This quote has extreme meaning today as our country is making a vital choice today. 

Today, we must prioritize.  We must vote based on what we need based on what we want.  While many Americans identify with the "cool guy", we cannot afford to put social issues before our economic, physical, and cyber security. 

Vote your conscious and remember that this vote isn't just about you - but about the whole country's stability and place in the world.  I voted this morning and hope that you all can exercise your right and do so for the benefit of our nation today.

JOIN US AND MAKE YOUR NEXT VOTE YOUR MOST INFORMED VOTE!!

Special invited guests include:

Bob Brady and John Featherman

Robert Mansfield and Chaka Fattah

State Representative John Taylor 

City Council and Commission Members

Join Me TONIGHT to show your support! 

There is a Cigar Benefit for the family of P/O Brian Lorenzo at:

Holt's Cigars on Townsend Rd. in the Northeast - 6-9PM.
More information here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/416966041700654/

Convention-day mixer for all people

Join us tonight!

Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, we'll gather TONIGHT to watch Romney's nomination acceptance speech, meet others who are trying to move Philly forward, and discuss our views in a positive environment. There will be complimentary pizza and $2 bottled beer and $1 drafts.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

7:00 PM

to 11:00 PM at the

United Republican Club

3156 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

(Parking is available across the street at the Dollar Store)

All political opinions are welcomed -- support, dissent, or ambivalence!

 

More importantly, this event takes place in a community that rarely sees political reform events (and really needs to), and is at a location where the 'old establishment' calls home - so it's a rare opportunity to have a meaningful exchange of views and ideas on how to fix our broken federal, state, and local governments!

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012, 7 PM--11 PM

 

The happy hour is hosted by a mixed group of Philly Do-Gooders to include Philadelphians for Ethical Leadership, Philly R.O.C. (Philadelphia Republicans of Color), and both the 5th and 8th Wards(R).

 

Don't just complain about Philly's failure in political leadership, join some like-minded citizens to work on some solutions!

William Hite's selection to the PSD is yet another demonstration of Philadelphia's ongoing inferiority complex.  Why is the 5th largest city in the nation looking to a place like Prince George's County, Maryland for educational innovation? Anyone who knows PG County should know why I'm asking this.  PG County is the runoff for Washington, DC's closing public housing and has a rampant crime problem, largely attributed to a poor educational system, high poverty-rate, and unreasonable cost of living.

One has to wonder what Philadelphia's infatuation is with the Washington, DC area? Arlene Ackerman, before starting her scandal-riddled tenure with San Francisco and Philadelphia was the Superintendent of the DC Public School System, which is one of the lowest rated systems in America (lower than Philadelphia's).  Mayor Nutter appointed, then gave an unprecedented off-schedule raise to Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who was the D.C. Police Chief, where they had a higher per-capita crime rate than Philadelphia, in a much smaller area with more concurrent law enforcement agencies on patrol.  Now, Philadelphia picks Dr. Hite from DC's worst suburb (which is ironic because Fairfax County, another DC Suburb has one of America's top 10 school systems). 

One has to wonder the political motivation for appointing those who come from places worse than our great city, not better; and why we as a city continue to perpetuate an inferiority complex that doesn't reflect the size and cultural diversity of Philadelphia.