Northeast News
October 19, 2016

Kansas City Mayor Sly James released the following statement following the shooting on the Country Club Plaza Saturday night. We’re going to focus on some singular words in his statement that should bring crystal clarity to why Kansas City continues to be one of the most dangerous cities in America.
“I have mixed emotions. I’m thankful that the victims from the shootings are not suffering from life-threatening injuries and that no additional bystanders were hurt. However, I’m angry that gun violence continues to shatter lives in all parts of our city, whether it be on the Plaza or at 44th and Montgall, where I grew up. We must send a message to those individuals whose use of guns diminishes the safety of all of our neighborhoods. Let’s bring this person to justice quickly by calling the TIPS hotline, 816-474-TIPS, if you have any information that could help.”
Right out of the gate, you know it’s all downhill from the get go when you have to open a press release with: “I’m thankful that the victims from the shootings are not suffering from life-threatening injuries and that no additional bystanders were hurt.” Fact: two people still took rounds because some goof, who this dog bets has a long and storied rap sheet, decided it was a good idea to send random ordinance downrange to settle of all things, a candy dispute. Think about that for a minute.
The Mayor says he’s angry about the gun violence that continues to “shatter lives,” and references those who use guns to diminish the safety in all our neighborhoods. Never mind a good percentage of those people would be in jail if the prosecutor would actually put bad people in jail.
The Mayor expresses a strong desire to bring ‘this” person to justice. Why “this” person specifically? Why not all those other village idiots who randomly shoot up communities on a daily basis, leaving a trail of bodies and wreckage in their wake? And what does “justice” look like in this case? The term “justice” seems to take on a different definition here in Jackson County versus the surrounding counties where criminals are actually prosecuted and put in jail with startling regularity. Anyone who lives in Kansas City’s urban core knows exactly what “justice” looks like and sadly so do the criminals who continue to play the “justice” game, systematically being released back out in to the community to continue to spread their message of peace, love and understanding.
Here’s the straight skinny from the dog. Nothing is going to change in Jackson County until the prosecutorial paradigm that allows dangerous criminals to roll back out on the streets after a 20-hour hold is changed at the top. Until that happens, the status quo of random violent crime will continue, providing more grandstanding opportunities with senseless random soundbites that are all hat and no cowboy.