Dangerous Detroit – never heard that one before . . .
Yesterday, I had the fortune of attending the International Heritage Development Conference at the Renaissance Center put on by the Alliance for National Heritage Centers. The Motor Cities National Heritage Areas organization hosted the 2007 here in Detroit and did a wonderful job showing off our beautiful city. Attendees were led on field trips to see what Detroit and Windsor have done with their riverfronts, treated to a Princess River Cruise, and also led out as far as Flint to study our region and state. However, I had the misfortune of overhearing some out-of-towners excited about the fact that they had confirmed all their stereotypes about Detroit because they heard gunfire. This is America. America allows people to own guns. Police officers and civilians are armed with guns. The likelihood of one facing gun violence in this country is too high for comfort, no matter where you are. Unfortunately this is a part of life – be it in big cities, rural areas, or “quiet” suburban utopias – and not just a part of life in Detroit city. Don’t ever think that you may never be affected or that gun violence is limited to geographic boundaries.
Gunfire itself isn’t limited to geographic boundaries but the frequency of said gunfire certainly is.
Frequency would not be a problem if the guns weren’t in the hands of people in the first place. But you are correct. In more highly concentrated areas, more guns will be present; therefore, theoretically more violence.
Are they even sure it was gunfire? Think of the time of year. My roommate and I heard ‘gunfire’ everyday last week right outside of our Midtown apartment.
And by ‘gunfire’ I mean some kids with a six pack of Bud Light and some fireworks. Between 10 and 11 every night. We laughed when we actually figured out what it was, now I want to go scream at them to stop so I can just get some &^%&*( sleep!
I was thinking quite the same thing. However, apparently these individuals were witness to police who responded to the incident. I have a sneaking suspicion that this may have been an elaboration; however, the bottom line is that guns are a frightening part of our reality, as are drunken fools with fireworks :0)