Utopmk
16 Jan 2005, 04:13 PM
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6814957/
Kincaid Approves Assault Rifles In State Of City Address
WVTM-TV
BIRMINGHAMAla. - On Tuesday, Mayor Bernard Kincaid gave his State of the City address to more than 250 attendees at the Harbert Center.
Kincaid touched on dozens of issues during his speech, saying the state of Birmingham is “busy.” He also specifically approved the proposal to allow Birmingham police to carry assault rifles on patrol. During his half-hour speech, he talked about efforts to prevent future takeovers of Birmingham-based banks and businesses, while at the same time welcoming the Wachovia financial company, who recently bought out Birmingham-based SouthTrust bank, causing hundreds of job losses.
The mayor also stressed future efforts to revitalize downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, specifically strengthening laws to demolish rundown, unoccupied homes that sometimes lead to an increase in crime. Kincaid also made strong calls for private investment in the city, specifically money to help make the city proposed $498-million expansion of the convention a reality. With state funds for that project on hold, Kincaid said private gifting from local companies is critical to bringing a domed stadium to Birmingham. “I want to emphasize for the BJCC expansion and other major projects in which we want to succeed, the private sector must step up in a big way, as has been the case in other communities with which we are competing,” said Kincaid.
Kincaid also spoke at length on the issue of arming Birmingham police with high-powered rifles.
“I'm pleased to announce that in a meeting this morning with Chief Annetta Nunn we have determined that I will be approving an assault rifles police with some (restrictions),” said Kincaid.
“We're just encouraged that the mayor recognizes the officers in Birmingham need this tool available to them,” said Sgt. B.A. Treadaway, of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Kincaid and other leaders will hammer out a definitive patrol rifle policy in the coming weeks. There are plenty of questions to be answered before a plan is finalized, such as who will do the training, how will it be certified and what score will be necessary to qualify for the rifle.
“All of those are details we'll have to work through,” said Kincaid. “We understand that approval is coming, but it will come with some restrictions, and we'll have to understand what those are going to be.”
Opponents of the patrol rifle said they simply hope the guns are used responsibly. Kincaid and Nunn will begin work immediately to finalize specific details of the patrol rifle program. The process could last as little as a week, after which the city would move to begin rifle training for officers, according to Nunn. Kincaid said the city could team up with other agencies to purchase its patrol rifles.
On Tuesday, Alabama State Troopers announced plans to purchase semiautomatic rifles for its own officers. Kincaid said he plans to contact state Director of Public Safety Mike Coppage to see if the troopers would join the Birmingham police in buying the departments' rifles together. The mayor believes a bulk purchase could reduce the rifle costs for both agencies.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6814957/
Kincaid Approves Assault Rifles In State Of City Address
WVTM-TV
BIRMINGHAMAla. - On Tuesday, Mayor Bernard Kincaid gave his State of the City address to more than 250 attendees at the Harbert Center.
Kincaid touched on dozens of issues during his speech, saying the state of Birmingham is “busy.” He also specifically approved the proposal to allow Birmingham police to carry assault rifles on patrol. During his half-hour speech, he talked about efforts to prevent future takeovers of Birmingham-based banks and businesses, while at the same time welcoming the Wachovia financial company, who recently bought out Birmingham-based SouthTrust bank, causing hundreds of job losses.
The mayor also stressed future efforts to revitalize downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, specifically strengthening laws to demolish rundown, unoccupied homes that sometimes lead to an increase in crime. Kincaid also made strong calls for private investment in the city, specifically money to help make the city proposed $498-million expansion of the convention a reality. With state funds for that project on hold, Kincaid said private gifting from local companies is critical to bringing a domed stadium to Birmingham. “I want to emphasize for the BJCC expansion and other major projects in which we want to succeed, the private sector must step up in a big way, as has been the case in other communities with which we are competing,” said Kincaid.
Kincaid also spoke at length on the issue of arming Birmingham police with high-powered rifles.
“I'm pleased to announce that in a meeting this morning with Chief Annetta Nunn we have determined that I will be approving an assault rifles police with some (restrictions),” said Kincaid.
“We're just encouraged that the mayor recognizes the officers in Birmingham need this tool available to them,” said Sgt. B.A. Treadaway, of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Kincaid and other leaders will hammer out a definitive patrol rifle policy in the coming weeks. There are plenty of questions to be answered before a plan is finalized, such as who will do the training, how will it be certified and what score will be necessary to qualify for the rifle.
“All of those are details we'll have to work through,” said Kincaid. “We understand that approval is coming, but it will come with some restrictions, and we'll have to understand what those are going to be.”
Opponents of the patrol rifle said they simply hope the guns are used responsibly. Kincaid and Nunn will begin work immediately to finalize specific details of the patrol rifle program. The process could last as little as a week, after which the city would move to begin rifle training for officers, according to Nunn. Kincaid said the city could team up with other agencies to purchase its patrol rifles.
On Tuesday, Alabama State Troopers announced plans to purchase semiautomatic rifles for its own officers. Kincaid said he plans to contact state Director of Public Safety Mike Coppage to see if the troopers would join the Birmingham police in buying the departments' rifles together. The mayor believes a bulk purchase could reduce the rifle costs for both agencies.