Jul 7, 2009 8:16 pm US/Eastern
Miami PD Points To Arms Race In Overtown Shooting
Police: An AK-47 Was Used In The Assault
Two Or Three Men May Have Fired Into The Crowd
One Woman Was Hit By A Car As She Ran For Cover
MIAMI (CBS4 I-TEAM) ―
-
-
Twelve people were shot when a gunman opened fire at a Miami party.
CBS
Miami's police chief is speaking out again about the carnage on our streets being caused by thugs wielding high powered assault rifles. You have already heard about the latest bloodshed—12 people shot early Monday morning in Miami's Overtown neighborhood.
One of the victims, a young woman who had been studying at Florida A & M University, has died from her injuries.
Police say one of the weapons involved was a high-powered AK-47 assault rifle. Lawmen say such rifles have been flooding our streets since a federal ban on assault weapons ended in 2004. Chief John Timoney made his feelings crystal clear.
"There is no place in American cities for AK-47's or in America for that matter," said Chief Timoney. "When you talk about AK-47's and other such assault weapons, those weapons are meant for one thing and one thing only, to kill people."
Timoney went on to say, "It doesn't look like right now there is the spine in Congress to take on gun advocates."
That harsh reality, he said, compelled him to allow his officers to start carrying AR-15's on a volunteer basis last year. It is an effort to match firepower with firepower, to protect his police officers and the public from a growing threat.
Timoney said, "I don't like being in an arms race. I think it is stupid, but unfortunately in my case necessary. It is a horrible position to be in and reasonable minds have to prevail."
Until or unless they do, the arms race on our streets will go on, and it is a battle where the criminals respect no boundaries.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Double Homicide In NW Miami-Dade
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
