Portland OR in Chaos: Homicides Surge, But What Did City Expect?

The Oregon Firearms Federation published a statement supporting a measure in Columbia County establishing what is generically called a "Second Amendment Sanctuary." The measure passed but will it stand? iStock-884203732
Portland, Oregon is experiencing a violent crime surge, with 51 slayings already reported. iStock-884203732

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)- Portland, Oregon “is on track to shatter gun violence records this year,” according to KATU News, the local ABC affiliate, but what they’re really talking about is the number of murders in the Rose City so far in 2021, in an environment that has been dominated by violent protests for 14 months, and $15 million cut from the police bureau budget.

KGW News, the local NBC affiliate, is reporting that the police agency has lost 125 officers during the past year, and Mayor Ted Wheeler has acknowledged, “It is obvious from where I sit that we do not have adequate resources deployed on our streets in a proactive way.”

The city experienced a mass shooting over the weekend that left an 18-year-old woman dead and several others wounded. According to the OregonLive/Portland Oregonian, “the Police Bureau’s effort to set up a new uniformed team of officers to address gun violence remains a challenge.”

No surprise there, since US News recalled that in the wake of last year’s death of George Floyd while being restrained by a Minneapolis police officer, Portland erupted in violent protests. “In the wake of sustained protests and calls to defund the police last summer,” US News said, “Portland’s City Commission cut some funding and disbanded the gun violence reduction unit.”

Portland has logged 51 homicides so far this year, and there are still five months to go. Last year, the city posted 55 murders, according to the Oregonian. This follows a report by KPTV News on July 14 that the city had posted 48 slayings, and “So many people have been killed in Portland this year that detectives are having trouble keeping up with the number of cases.”

There is something else. KATU is also reporting that community activists are complaining, “Because a lot of the victims are young black people, I don’t think it’s getting the severity that it deserves.”

But there does not appear to be as much concern about who has been doing the shooting. There have been arrests in fewer than half of the reported homicides, according to KPTV.

Oregon lawmakers pushed hard on gun control issues in Salem earlier this year. And the KATU report said most of the 51 people murdered so far were “killed…by gun violence.”

A recent opinion at Liberty Park Press put the media and gun control proponents on the spot about repeatedly using the term “gun violence.”

While firearms get the blame, and the Democrat-controlled legislature continued to penalize law-abiding gun owners, OregonLive.com acknowledged police “have had little success in finding two sergeants and 12 officers to sign up for” a new uniformed squad called the “Focused Intervention Team.”  But as the news agency acknowledged, “Officers are very aware that many residents and city councilors don’t want police to recreate the Gun Violence Reduction Team or its precursor, the Gang Enforcement Team.”

Therein lies the problem, it appears. As reported by the Oregonian, “The city disbanded the Gun Violence Reduction Team last year as part of a $15 million cut to the police budget, citing concerns about its disproportionate stops of people of color.”

And the newspaper also reported that “A key component is to have a 12-member community oversight group to monitor the team’s actions. The city has moved forward and selected 12 people to serve as members of the group,” so it appears there will be some sort of citizen oversight.

What’s happening in Portland may be a microcosm of what is happening nationally. Violence is on the upswing in major cities, including Washington, D.C. where a shooting outside of Nationals Park caused a sixth-inning shutdown of the baseball game Saturday evening. The shooting was between “people in two vehicles,” according to the New York Times. Three people were treated for gunshot wounds, including a female bystander.

In Chicago, “At least 11 people were killed and 45 others were injured in shootings,” Fox News reported.

But instead of blaming individuals, gun control proponents will continue affixing blame to guns and penalizing gun owners who had nothing to do with any of these crimes.

In Seattle, according to MyNorthwest.com, there were nine homicides in June.

“That’s the highest number of recorded homicides Seattle has seen in June since 2008,” the story said, “the earliest year publicly available from the Seattle Crime Dashboard. It represents a 125% higher homicide rate than in June of 2020.”

And the year isn’t over, yet. Two months remain in the summer, and early autumn in major cities can produce several murders as well.


About Dave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

Dave Workman

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woody

Politicians just grooming the peoples for the coming of socialistic changes, nothing new here seen it before

swmft

yea El Salvador Honduras

ExGob

There are those who just won’t admit that, when you leap from atop a 100 story building, it’s gonna kill you when you hit the sidewalk. Abolition of firearms is not the solution to the prevention of gun violence. Applicable punishment for those who use one illegally is the only deterrent.

JoeUSooner

AMEN!

Russn8r

It’s not the only deterrent, and it’s the wrong objective. RKBA without “gun free” zones is also a deterrent. Crime should be punished regardless of tool used. Extra punishment for ‘gun crime’ says it’s worse to be murdered by gun than knife, bat, fists, fire, poison, car etc. It’s a gun-grabber POV. Let’s stop spreading it for them.

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
ExGob

I am not spreading support for any kind of lawlessness. The definition of the word ‘applicable’ is not ‘extra’. My statement conveys that we need to apply our existing laws relative to gun violence, instead of returning certain violators to the street asap. Everyone knows that is the current trend. Sure, all crime should be punished as prescribed by law, and it should apply to everyone, not just specific elements. I do not, and never will support anything that is contrary to the 2nd amendment to The Constitution Of The United States Of America!

Last edited 3 years ago by ExGob
Russn8r

Sorry, but you are unintentionally doing that. Extra punishment for “gun crime” aids the gun grabbers, demonizes guns over other tools, incentivizes non-“gun crime” relative to “gun crime”.

Just as “special circumstances” for killing COPs & POCs implies that other lives matter less.

ExGob

Again, I have NOT suggested any EXTRA punishment for anyone for any particular type of crime. I have merely stated that we need to get back to using our established laws pertinent to the crime that was committed. If you are under the impression that my use of the word ‘applicable’ means that I’m suggesting we should add ‘extra’ punishment, above and beyond what is prescribed by law, for any crime that involves the use of a firearm, you are wrong, and I suggest that you consult a dictionary and edify yourself on the definition of the word ‘applicable’. The… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by ExGob
Russn8r

Roger that. Thanks.

ExGob

Thank You!

JSNMGC

Relative to what?

Russn8r

Violence by guns, LOL.

JSNMGC

When government employees really get to redefine the meaning of words and deny even more rights for saying things that are wrongspeak, it’s going to get spicy.

So many people are willing to adopt whatever language government employees come up with – it’s amazing.

ExGob

Thanks!

Russn8r

No worries. I get your drift. Good points.

Neanderthal75

I have a suggestion for you, Dave Workman, and everyone else that continues to use the term ‘gun violence’: there is no such critter, it is a propaganda term used by the anti-2a leftist brigades and if we continue to perpetuate that phrase, we are helping those who hate us, who wish to strip us of our weapons, and strip us of our constitutional rights! We need to call it what it is: criminal violence. It is the criminals doing the dirty deeds, not the inanimate objects they use to accomplish their deeds. Cheers from the oil patch in Central… Read more »

Finnky

As i’ve heard it, gun and violence are inseparable to too many people. Have spoken to many who would called being knifed, bludgeoned or strangled “gun violence.”

They also call anything involving guns, including advertising, purchasing or collecting “gun violence.” Thus Biden can “honestly” say crime is down AND “gun violence” is up.

Thank you Dave, for all your efforts to stop this madness.

Last edited 3 years ago by Finnky
Russn8r

Excellent, but The journalist? I’d be surprised if at least David Codrea didn’t do the same.

ExGob

Thanks. My use of the phrase was to make a point of it’s use in the article. I should have italicized it.

pieslapper

Chiraq says: “Those are rookie numbers, ya gotta pump those numbers up!”

Neanderthal75

Dave, I mentioned you and another comment to another poster, concerning the misnomered phrase ‘gun violence’.

Please stop using that term because you are helping the very people who hate our guts and wish to strip us of our rights.

Please use the term that you know to be more accurate ‘criminal violence’.

Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming

RoyD

N75, can you point out where in the article that the phrase “gun violence” was used without quotation marks surrounding said usage? If you can you might have a point. The fact that you will not be able to makes your point moot if not silly.

Neanderthal75

You would have a point were it not for the fact that the average reader ignores quotation marks, because the vast majority of people 45 years of age and under have not been grammatically trained in public schools to understand the dichotomy! 90% of readers will simply see the words ‘gun violence’ and ignore the quotation marks, because they will not understand the use and significance of those quotation marks! Have you not been paying attention to the exceedingly quality video examinations of what the average University and college student understands, is currently being taught, and believes to be reality… Read more »

JSNMGC

Here we go with more of “those young whippersnappers!” You really need to get out and socialize with young people who: Are very well educated; Know when to use single quotation marks and when to use double quotation marks; Are successful; Value their freedom (and understand that the essence of freedom is to fundamentally keep the fruit of their labor); Understand that the majority of American voters born in the late 1800s and early 1900s were socialists; Understand that some people born in the 40’s who were vetted by the military “did not value human life;” and Know who it… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by JSNMGC
RoyD

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

JSNMGC

That’s what I think when elderly people post that 18 to 20 year olds today don’t value life like people did in the 60s, so maybe the government should vet them before they are allowed to purchase a firearm.

https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1

Last edited 3 years ago by JSNMGC
JSNMGC
RoyD

Is that all you got? I worked with and had numerous conversations with the person who issued Lt Calley and his men the munitions they used on that mission. You perhaps should go sell crazy somewhere else ‘cuz we’re full up around here!

JSNMGC

Go on RoyD – don’t stop there.

Russn8r

RrhoiD can’t go on. His arguments are rubbish, so he goes right to the ad hominem.

JSNMGC

You don’t understand – he knew the guy that issued POS Calley munitions! He can set the record straight right here right now.

As a reminder RoyD, after government employees attempted a cover-up (why do so many government employees lie and destroy evidence – especially the federal ones), the United States Army convicted POS Calley of murder.

Russn8r

He who says nothing says “is that all you got?” Excellent projection!

JSNMGC

Tex, don’t act like a government employee – be specific. You don’t have to wait for RoyD to work in unision with you.

Russn8r

Uh huh. You’re mentally unable to disprove anything rationally, so you go right to your cowardly snippy ad hominem poodle M.O. for deflection. You low-IQ authority grovelers think snippy, hit & run, “shoot the messenger” downvotes & projection defeats arguments, but it just reveals your mental malfunctions: You’re like women scorned, whoring for up votes, think having 5 sockpuppets downvote me hurts my feelings.

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
Russn8r

Still evading issues you can’t deal with hypocritical projection, like a good leftist e.g. “clowns”. That’s not insulting or name calling. No, no!

Yes, JBT authority grovelers should have everyone censored whose arguments you’re mentally unequipped to deal with. Then low-IQ ex-JBTs can have their own echo chamber.

You’re learning all your techniques from the leftists on Twitter & FB, Comrade. Congratulations!

JSNMGC

You are starting to sound like a former enforcer.

People who spend their careers imposing their view on others through force/threat of force get frustrated when views are expressed with which they disagree.

Do you want to arrest me for disorderly conduct (refusing to respect your authority)?

Second best, call in the mods to cancel me? That’s an AR15.com tactic.

Why don’t you just put forth your view?

Russn8r

“Mama don’t like tattletales, RoyD.”

Did you notice RoyD pulled a Will? Deleted his post that called for twitter-FB style censorship by Ammoland – after it was replied to – which, far as I can tell, only a “moderator” can do.

JSNMGC

I think that was TEX.

Add a few exclamation points to TEX’s posts, and it sounded like Will.

Russn8r

Snippy hit & run rrhoid issue-evasion M.O.

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

My estimate of the percentage of enforcers/former enforcers who are good is going down based on the ones who are active on the internet.

paurus

They keep harping on race and profiling; but the fact remains that 13% of the population is responsible for 52% of the murders. They have put all the blame on the police for trying to do their job.

Russn8r

Police didn’t try to do their job in Portland & other cities. Why should we pay The Blue who OBEY orders to watch lives & dreams beaten, looted & burned?

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

They followed orders.

They followed orders to arrest people singing in a church parking lot (in a “red state”).

They have posted here they would follow orders to enforce registration of semiautomatic rifles.

They have refused to answer the question as to whether they would follow orders to enforce confiscation of semiautomatic rilfes if they are banned.

Sometimes silence is deafening.

Most of them are on their own side.

JSNMGC

Reply put on hold.

Russn8r

Probably by He Who Is Not To Be confused With Will Rogers or some other thin-skinned power-hungry crybaby “moderator”.

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
Neanderthal75

I agree with your real world observation of what the police did and did not do in Portland and in fact many other cities. Show me where they disobeyed a binding legal order from their superiors, and or any existing law local, county, state, or federal? I believe it is the 2005 scotus ruling that stipulated that the police do not have a legal, constitutional requirement to protect civilians. This ruling alone allows the police to simply stand there and watch you be murdered. Point of fact there may be standing orders for the officers to not arrest the people… Read more »

JSNMGC

You missed the point – the problem is they didn’t refuse to obey orders.

Russn8r

Treasonous SupCt decreeing “they don’t have to protect anyone” doesn’t mean “LEOs” who rely on that do not dishonor their oath & moral duty. All those should be fired.

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
Bill

Democrats seem to have no clue that establishing a peaceful and civilized society (amid many other great things that this nation has developed) is a great accomplishment. Throw grenades at what has been carefully built over many years, and don’t expect it to come back with a snap of the fingers. That is called, “Making your bed, and having to lie in it,” or something.

Boz

Half of the poIiticians and Iawyers at the bottom of the ocean — A Good Start!

JSNMGC

Will!

  • Destroys evidence (as he did when he was a Texas enforcer)
  • Vague accusations
  • Inability to make an argument
  • Highly emotional
  • Unanswered appeals to RoyD
  • “TEX” as his new username

Welcome back, Will

JSNMGC

Whew – that was quick Will!

JSNMGC

And downvote – it’s definitely Will.

“TEX” – funny as “Superman”

JSNMGC

TEX – 7/25/21:
 
“And JSNMGC? What an idiotic and pitiful handle you have kid!!!!!”

Reply to “TEX” (Will):

WooooHoooo!

Will that was the most pathetic attempt at a retread I’ve ever seen. Did you really think it would work?

You thought if you just put those exclamation marks behind a glass door, you could resist the urge. Didn’t take much for you to: break in case of emergency.

You got fired for being caught doing bad things as an enforcer and the video was put up on Youtube, didn’t you?

Last edited 3 years ago by JSNMGC
JSNMGC

TEX – 7/25/21:
 
“And downvotes kid? Why would anyone upvote the total bullshit you and Rusky spew? If you two morons didn’t upvote each other you would hardly have any vote at all!!! Damn it’s so fine!”

Reply to “TEX” (Will):

Will, you never make a point. You just emote.

JSNMGC

TEX – 7/25/21:

“Boy if you go by downvotes there are one hell of a lot of WILLS here on AMMOLAND. Scum like you and Rusky won’t be around here too long no how!! Damn it’s so fine!!!!”

Reply to “TEX” (Will):

Never change Will.

Try coming back a third time – maybe as “Buckaroo” or something.

Last edited 3 years ago by JSNMGC
Russn8r

They have a lot of sock puppets. I also suspect they’re “moderators”, since I see no way to delete comments.

Last edited 3 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

There are a lot of things that are things that are discussed incessantly here.

Enforcers are the ones totalitarians depend on to impose their will.

All gun laws are just bad ideas without enforcers who will enforce them.

It’s not just the 2nd Amendment, of course, that is infringed on because of enforcers. What happens when laws are passed to infringe on the fourth amendment and the enforcers are allowed to keep the seized assets for the use of their department?

https://reason.com/2021/07/23/man-says-oklahoma-police-seized-140k-from-him-without-cause/

Good luck with your sheriffs.

JSNMGC

“The County Sheriff is the chief law officer in the county and is responsible for preserving the peace and protecting life and property in the county.”

Now, that is funny.

They will take your property when some idiot with an IQ of 92 is “300 percent sure” that your money is “illegal.” Based on what? The fact that he doesn’t have that much money.

Meet Chris West:

https://www.canadiancounty.org/

Last edited 3 years ago by JSNMGC
JSNMGC

Sorry for the typo – should be: “a lot of things that are discussed. . .”

JSNMGC

Maybe a lot of people there have concluded that the Republican Oklahoma state legislators espouse their view that the 4th amendment means: “We’re going to take the money first and then go to court, because that’s another system. Because a lot of times by the time you go to court. . . it takes so long to go to court to get the due process procedures. I like taking the money early . . . to go to court would have taken a long time, so . . . take the money first, go through due process second.”  Personally, I’m politically active… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by JSNMGC
Russn8r

That’s an irresponsible lazy-minded self-serving excuse to evade your duties as a citizen.

EVERY D is anti-gun. Nowhere near all Rs are anti-gun – just the RINOs. Excuse makers can’t be bothered to sacrifice, organize, volunteer or donate to help bounce RINOs in primaries, which is why the R party is infested with them.

And the LoLibertarian scam is far worse than the RINO scam. LoLibertarians believe in unlimited immigration = no USA.