This diary is an invitation to have a frank talk about risk. Local risk. The kinds of daily risk you face where you live as you come and go from work, errands and social engagements. It's about the people you may encounter as you go about your daily life.
Palmdale, California is a small city of ~160,000 in northern Los Angeles County just north of the San Gabriel mountain range. Incorporated in 1962, their town motto is: "A Place To Call Home."
Over the last 25 years this city has consistently been ranked in the top 25 fastest growing cities in the United States (based on percentage change).[...]
The city is known as a family-oriented community with a high quality of life. Palmdale Regional Medical Center, a first class medical facility opened in 2010, includes an emergency department, a helipad, medical office towers, and a senior housing complex. A new multimodal transportation center, serving local and commuter bus and train services, opened in 2005. A voter-initiated and approved tax has funded major park and recreation expansions, including the Palmdale Amphitheater (capacity 10,000), two new pools, other recreation buildings, satellite library and Dry Town Water Park. Downtown revitalization includes hundreds of new senior housing units, a new senior center, and expanded open space. A new 48,000 sq ft (4,500 m2). Sheriff station opened in July 2006, the largest in Los Angeles County. Two additional fire stations have been built, one on the east side and one on the west side. [Wikipedia - Palmdale, California]
Four guns were reported stolen from a storage unit in Palmdale last month, December 2013. The investigation lead Deputy James Moser to three men in Little Rock, CA, a town to the north of Palmdale, and to a surprising cache of arms. "Investigators found six pistols, 11 rifles, a WWII machine gun, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, more than 100 magazines, and several items of White Supremacist paraphernalia." They also found an unlicensed 25-yard firing range 10-feet under ground in a sound proofed bunker.
We've being hearing the increasingly violent right wing rhetoric ever since we elected the nation's first black President. Reports of robust gun sales and ammunition shortages have continued for several years now. A private arsenal like the one found in Palmdale is hardly even surprising any more.
Have you asked yourself lately, how well do you really know your neighbors?
Join me below the fold to walk in someone else's shoes for awhile.
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We have adopted Wee Mama's and akadjian's guidance on communicating. But most important, be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
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Sources
Wikipedia - Palmdale, California
Video: Bunker Stash Included Stolen Guns, Nazi Memorabilia
by John Cádiz Klemack, for NBC4 News, Jan 9, 2014
A day after sheriff's deputies raided a secret bunker outside of Palmdale, NBC4 News got an exclusive look into underground area on Wednesday, which contained everything from a firing range to a cache of stolen and illegal weapons. John Cádiz Klemack reports from Little Rock for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014.
Secret Stash of Illegal Weapons, White Supremacist Paraphernelia Found in Palmdale
"I wasn't quite expecting what we discovered," Deputy James Moser said.
by Samia Khan and John Cádiz Klemack on Thursday, Jan 9, 2014
[...] "He had some Nazi flags and rebel flag, some other photos of himself wearing Nazi attire and giving the straight arm salute, stuff like that," Vezina said.
Deputies arrested 54-year-old Todd Hunt, 33-year-old Royce Gresham, and 62-year-old Larry Finnell, all residents of Littlerock.
"Larry was a survivalist, he's concerned about the direction our government is going now," neighbor Dale Snide said of one of the suspects. "He was a good neighbor, never caused anyone any trouble out here as far as I know." [...]
...Continue reading Secret Stash of Illegal Weapons, White Supremacist Paraphernelia Found in Palmdale
Deputies Discover Secret White Supremacist Bunker, Shooting Range, in California
By Ryan Lenz for Southern Poverty Law Center, on January 10, 2014
[...] Inside the soundproof underground bunker, investigators found a 25-yard shooting range, six pistols, 11 rifles, a World War II-era machine gun, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, over 100 magazines (some high-capacity), Nazi flags and pictures of at least one of the men posing in Nazi attire. Some of the weapons, like the machine gun, were illegal, and others were stolen, authorities said.
“It’s not something that anybody we’ve ever worked with has seen in their careers in law enforcement,” Sheriff’s Det. Julia Vezina told an NBC affiliate in Los Angeles. “When you open up the hatch, you look down and about 10 feet down, all concrete reinforced walls, soundproof with bars.”
Police took three men into custody after the Jan. 8 discovery: Royce Gresham, 33, Todd Hunt, 54, and Larry Finnell, 62, who lived in the house where the bunker was discovered. The men were charged with weapons violations and were to be arraigned at the Antelope Valley courthouse.[...]
...Continue reading Deputies Discover Secret White Supremacist Bunker, Shooting Range, in California.
Discussion
Have you asked yourself lately, how well do you really know your neighbors?
- Do you live in a place "where everyone knows your name"?
- Do you live in a place where criminals in your neighborhood have intimidated witnesses into silence when the police ask questions?
- Do you live in a place where you could be targeted, personally, because of your political activism?
- Do you live in a place where someone nearby you could build an underground shooting range without anyone noticing?
Mon Jan 27, 2014 at 12:21 PM PT:
Thanks, everybody, for collaborating in this discussion. I'll check in later to respond to late arrivals.
Breaking news is expected later today involving prosecution of Jonathan Ferrell's shooter; a hearing is underway involving the DA's intent to resubmit the case to another Grand Jury. To add Steelergrrl's diaries to your stream click on the ♥ or the word "Follow" next to Steelergrrl's name.