New Post has been published on UrRepublic
New Post has been published on http://www.urrepublic.com/big-noise-small-towns/
Big Noise about Small Towns
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Quite often we hear about news and crime, most of which stem from large cities, inner cities, and over-populated urban communities. The reason is not because only because of the population, diversity, crime rates, or the nature of the crimes, but mainly due to the fact that the cities and areas hold notoriety for one reason or another. We often hear news about New York and some of its large cities, Detroit, Oakland, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, and recently, cities such as Ferguson. What many people fail to realize is that some of the largest issues stem from small towns. Little is known publicly about these towns and people don’t expect drastic crimes because they often have a sense of safety in towns like this.
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When people are looking to move, travel, or relocate, it is important to check out various statistics. Parents often look up communities, schools, churches, government affiliations (number of government officials), and extracurricular activities, as well as the employment rates. What about drug rates and crimes that have been increasingly high without any logical explanation?
A prime example is the small area in central Florida. Many outsiders see Pasco County (a small suburb just north of Tampa), as a friendly and quiet area, consisting of many retired northerners and small families who are just starting out.
Last week’s news of a 13 year-old boy shooting and killing his 6 year-old brother, shooting (wounding) his 16 year-old brother, and then turning the gun on himself (committing suicide) over an argument about food, was quite alarming. According to authorities and the brother who survived the attack, the mother was not home during the time of the argument or the shootings. This story made the news. People are in shock and are asking questions.
What many people don’t know is that, Pasco County has been home to many drug raids, large trafficking rings, murders, hate crimes, robberies, and fraudulent activities for quite some time. Just a few days ago they arrested three men who had been importing and distributing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine. People are stabbing each other over minor traffic accidents and attacking elderly people in their homes at night. Over the last five years, Pasco County has struggled with a large pill epidemic and community leaders and those who plan to remain long term residents, fight to keep the cities in this county above water.
While the crime index shows a decline in thefts and other misdemeanors, violent crimes are on the rise. There have been more murders in 2015 in just the first quarter, than there were in total in 2012 or 2013.
Why does it take a double homicide of children to bring light to struggling small towns? We saw this with Ferguson and we see it Austin, Indiana, where HIV rates run rampant and needles are strewn across children’s playgrounds. It is not more law involvement that we need; it is community involvement and community awareness.
