The murder rate here in Philly continues to rise. Four people were shot-one fatally-within several hours of each other today alone (Which reminds me, I have to update my "Killadelphia" murder count). And there is no end in sight.
But now as we approach Valentine's Day let me hip you to a very disturbing trend here in my hometown: It seems that many of our women here are buying their ex con boyfriends fire arms as gifts. Some of their par amours have three four and five criminal convictions, and because they are banned from owning hand guns, their sweeties take it upon themselves to get the ideal gift for the love of their lives.
If they just met, the lady in the former felons life might buy him a Walther P-22 semi automatic or some shit. But if that women really loves her man, she might get him a Glock-17 (9mm), just to show she cares. And if there might be wedding bells in their immediate future, I am sure a 45 ACP Luger would not be out of the question.
The sad thing is that a lot of these women are risking arrest and serious jail time. Straw purchasing of firearms (buying guns for the purpose of reselling them or giving them to someone else) is illegal, and given the climate of violence in this city, you can best believe that the DA's office and the feds are not in the mood to play nice.
So ladies, as Valentines Day approaches, if you want to get a nice gift for the love of your life; you might want to consider a watch or a nice piece of jewelry. It will keep your man out of trouble, and ultimately, you out of jail.
38 comments:
This is very disturbing news. Thanks for sharing. I hope that somebody reads this and takes notice immediately.
My ex-girlfriend (we're still friends) bought me earrings last Valentine's Day, which was a more suitable gift than a Ruger P90 series would have ever been.
Hi,
I also live right outside of Philly. Yeah, this is scary. I love your blog. I am a fellow field negro.
Peace,
Ava
Buying a gun as a gift? There's no romance in that...Such a culture of violence...
Damn,
They say you get the love you seek. These women are most definitely giving these brothas a crutch to lean on. It is said as hell what passes for relationships in the 21st century among folks especially black folks. Hell most young women think a good date is a trip to the waffle house or mcdonalds. What ever happened to some self respect, I guess that shit is eliminated when you got 30 year old grandmothers. To be sure field someone will step up on here and tell us its society fault for this situation. I am the most ardent attacker of institutional racism and bs but this shit makes my head spin when black ignorance stands in the place of where love should be.
ow ironic: Giving a guy a deadly weapon to show you care. Increasing the supply of guns in the community for us to kill each other.
And, field, some of the violent areas where people tote guns and push drugs are streets or avenues named after Dr. Martin Luther King. You can't make this stuff up.
Good post.
wow! i never would imagined such a crazy, ridiculous, foolish thing had i not read this post. giving a guy a gun to show how much you care? damn, whatever happened to dinner & a night out on the town and a regular gift?? when the boyfriend gets pissed about something, i sure as heck hope that same gift doesn't get used on the giver.
--feeling you in Florida---
Field thanks for the information. Some were somebody is during this and calling it love is scary.
@thinkaboutit, 30 year old grandmothers might be the reason why. Any time a young woman would consider a date to McDonald or Waffle House as a date is beyond me, I called that just getting something to eat.
Hi fellow field Negro Ava. Thanks for the kind words. (Illadelph in tha house)
macdaddy, the MLK named streets in the most violent parts of our cities is a whole different postthat needs to be put out there.
robster, if these women were getting their men jewelry shaped like guns it would be bad enough, but the real thing?
thinkaboutit, is an evening out at "Red Lobster" considered a good date? I ask for a reason.
And to be fair to some poor guy who is barely making ends meet. If he truly cares about his woman and can only afford a meal at Waffle House, I don't have a problem with that. She might, but I don't :)
"They say you get the love you seek."
Wow. That is so deep. And it's such a shame that our relationships have devolved into enabling the worst in us.
Wow.
Field said:
“The sad thing is that a lot of these women are risking arrest and serious jail time.”
Not to mention being shot and killed by that very gun when fall out day comes. Talk about self demise. It’s a shame when women are so limited and confused they think they have to use a gun as a bargaining tool for love with these men. Gee, I wonder how they just happen to figure to buy these men guns... "wink"
Thinkaboutit said:
”Hell most young women think a good date is a trip to the waffle house or mcdonalds.
“
That’s because they have limited access to viable men in their community. You know, men that would have man-ly guidance and “self respect” in knowing how to take women to places otherwise.
”What ever happened to some self respect, I guess that shit is eliminated when you got 30 year old grandmothers.”
Yeah, especially those 20-30-40 year old men fathering babies with those smae 15 year old girls. One plus one equals what?
”I am the most ardent attacker of institutional racism and bs but this shit makes my head spin when black ignorance stands in the place of where love should be.”
Then you should know how the program works. For every dysfunctional sister, there’s most likely a dysfunctional brother, father, grand-father, uncle, cousin and somebody in jail... and so the cycle continues.
Is that a Glock-17 in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?
Sorry, it just slipped out.
Wow.
Field said:
“And to be fair to some poor guy who is barely making ends meet. If he truly cares about his woman and can only afford a meal at Waffle House, I don't have a problem with that. She might, but I don't :)"
I can't disagree with that either.
What a find interesting, if she dares complain, she might still end up being called a "gold-digger" by some of these men either way. Can't win for losing with some people.
Personally, I feel as though the person doing the straw-purchasing should receive the same sentencing as the person who committed the crime.
Lol @ the paper for printing these peoples names, ages and address. It wouldn't have surprised me to see the list littered with the 24 and under age group - but, some of these were grown ass women! 36???
Seriously... you're 36 and you're still doing dumb shit like buying handguns for a convicted felon? I participated in some VERY immature and ignorant activities when I was younger, but around 24/25 I started to realize I couldn't keep doing these things and expect to lead a productive life. There comes a time when you must grow up and make better decisions. And, you know these fools probably have children...
*sigh*
I have yet to meet a man who I am so in love with that I will risk my freedom for his behind.
I also refuse to buy a man a gun before I arm myself, first, because some guys out there are really whacked, and I might have to defend myself.
I know about giving a man a second chance, but it appears that if he can't stay out of jail, that's more than merely making "mistakes"; that's an indication that the guy has no inclination to do better, and I don't want to hear from brothas about how "the man" has you on a beat down, either, because that's played like an eight-track in your Mama' Deuce and a Quarter.
@la~msvian,
Yeah you make some valid points, but the larger issue is not an attack on their socio-economic position in life. I think the point of the thread was their craziness in purchasing guns for their thug boyfriends. Hell, who does not know that some people have dysfunctional people in their families. Yet, for the most part there has to be a come up at some point when your shit stank. I do not care how poor you are there used to exist such a thing as doing the right thing. So, trying to critique me point by point is a little silly when the premise is that buying guns for your thug is bs. I was attempting to say a little love would be more appropriate than the glock. Hell we all know these baby daddys are not shit and it takes two to make little one. I am not about to let the baby daddys off the hook no more than the baby mamas.
This is an interesting post, but I have to say that both, the post and comments leave a bitter taste in mouth; the bitter taste of misogyny!
Why are the "Ride and Die" "females" cast as the culprits for increasing the guns in our community when I'm sure it's the men who ask for them? Goddess knows it's the men who use them. Other than that, the post was an interesting read, but we must deconstruct, deconstruct, and deconstruct the patriarchy, mysogyny, and sexism in every aspect of our lives; including blog post that are good reads ;-)
The number of shootings in Oakland in the past 8-10 days is off the charts. Ironically, Oakland police were forced into a publicity stunt by the state senate pro tem (who is planning a run at Oakland mayor) and held a gun buyback on Saturday. They collected several hundred guns.
It's not a surprise that ex cons have guns or that the silly women in their lives would buy them guns. As a woman, I am continually exasperated by what a woman will do to keep a man in her life.
That's insane. I would never consider buying a gun for someone I love. Keep us posted on the Philly murder rate!
Field, we all on these blogs might understand this issue, but are the sisters (and ultimately the brothers) who use the internet not to blog but to post ass photos really getting the message?
I am tired, wiped out, beaten, defeated, made evil, demoralized, debunked by this stuff. I'm starting to think the only real solutions involve vasectomies and Norplant on our own people...and I don't mean voluntary, either...
(sob)
Hi FN,
When you feel you are the least, poor Black women, you are willing to do the most to hold on to anything that feels good.
Lack of self-esteem is a dangerous thing.
"So, trying to critique me point by point is a little silly when the premise is that buying guns for your thug is bs."
I don't disagree, but you're the one that went off talking about food and grandmothers.
"I am tired, wiped out, beaten, defeated, made evil, demoralized, debunked by this stuff. I'm starting to think the only real solutions involve vasectomies and Norplant on our own people...and I don't mean voluntary, either...
(sob)"
Damn CC I'm all over that statement 100%. Remember that old phrase...I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired...
When will the madness let up...
If you are a babymamma at 15, chances are you had some growing to do awhile. Why do you think the oh-so-white Mormon polygamists get their daughters "married" off at 15? It's to postpone that adult mental state.
Women buying guns may be doing so for protection. You look around Philly and you may feel she needs it to get home after work. Mr. Felon, OTOH can go get stuffed.
Let us not forget the class meme of being shrewd, crafty and taking the system for all it has. Reagan's straw WelfareQueen resonated mightily with blacks as well. We knew or were related to those that scammed the Man.
As an ex-abused woman, I'm interested to note that everybody seems to think that buying these guns is the woman's idea.
My guess is sometimes, but generally not. I suspect a lot of women figure that they'll get the gun they've been "asked" to get today to avoid getting a beating today and deal with tomorrow tomorrow.
"Why are the "Ride and Die" "females" cast as the culprits for increasing the guns in our community when I'm sure it's the men who ask for them? Goddess knows it's the men who use them. Other than that, the post was an interesting read, but we must deconstruct, deconstruct, and deconstruct the patriarchy, mysogyny, and sexism in every aspect of our lives..."
----------------------
Cattie Gree: Come on! You sound like the white women in my college lit classes who were so against the white man's sexist "patriarchaal" system until they got a high-paying management job in it. Look, noboy's denying or relieving men of their role in this. But this is a warning to women, a cautionary tale to Sistahs saying, "Fine. Love your man, but use common sense. Don't buy a felon a gun. First, it's against the law. Second, when things don't go to his liking, he could use it against your ass!"
And for the record: Some of us "sexist" men have sisters and daughters that we would like to stay on this earth a little while longer. And to be honest, everytime I try to tell my sister about something like this, they just to borrow some money.
But if you don't think this blog is a good reminder, just ask any woman or man who counsels abused women; and they'll tell you straigh-up how men use guns to threaten women to keep them in check or sometimes kill them when threats no longer work and she tries to leave. And sometimes it's the gun she purchased for him.
This is not theory but some serious coat-pulling that could save a sistahs life.
NOOOOOOOO, please tell me it hasn't come down to this! we have women settling as wifeys (not wives) and now they're buying convicts firearms so that they can turn around and put a cap in their behinds?! do they not read the papers, look at the news? how many murder-suicides are at the hands of boyfriends?! This is wrong on so many levels...this has befuddled my mind, truly.
*I need to lay down* smh
Field, my brother-- I completely agree with your sentiments, and those of the commenters; but I gotta nit-pick with you a wee bit:
A Walther P22 is only a.22, but as such it ain't cheap. It's actually a well designed and well made little firearm from Germany, meant to look like a smaller version of 007's Walther P99. I've never handled one, but I'm assured that its a "tack driver"-- extremely accurate. Not a lot of stopping power, though; shoot a lot of big guys with something like this and it'll only piss 'em off more.
Again-- this is NOT a gun one buys for a "cheap gat." (told you I was nit-picking. :) )
There is the 9mm Luger (also known as 9mm parabellum), which is the standard cartridge (bullet, powder and case altogether) for a 9mm pistol like the Glock-17; but it is in no way related to the .45ACP (which stands for Automatic Colt Pistol), a whole 'nother beast.
The Luger was a turn of the (20th) century German pistol design; and a very successful one at that. It served as the issue sidearm of the German military until after WWII.
The .45 APC was designed for what's called the M1911 type of pistol-- what most of us think of as the Colt automatic.
The Glock 17 is a fairly large pistol, and thus not likely to be the firearm of choice for a 'banger; he's more likely to go with a Glock 19 (compact) or the Glock 27 (very small 9mm, very easy to conceal).
To recap: Walther P22; very expensive (relatively speaking) .22 caliber pistol- good looking (if you're into that sort of thing) and extremely well made (it's German, after all.)
Glock 17/19/27 - Austrian designed pistols firing the 9mm Luger round. Light in weight, capable of carrying up to 17 rounds in a single magazine, and very accurate. Currently (for the -17) issue sidearm for the Austrian army, the Bundeswehr, and a few other European militaries.
M1911/Colt .45ACP - Heavy American pistol design, reliable as all hell and packs a punch like mule. Not terribly accurate, but we're talking combat ranges of five meters or less; and serious knockdown power. Recently (in the last ten years or so) replaced as the issue sidearm of the US military by the Beretta 9mm (the .45 ACP is a fat bullet and so an M1911 mag can only hold 7 or so).
Why do I bring this up? Because I'm (say it with me, now) NIT-PICKING!
Why do I know all this shit? Because I know the history of pointy-hatted men showing up at the doorsteps of black men in the middle of the night; and I swore a mighty oath a LONG time ago (at the age of 9, would you believe) that they would probably get me, but some of 'em are goin' to hell with me.
Now, I'm a gun owner (what? you couldn't tell?), but my shit stays under lock and key (I have the only key AND there are NO children running around my house-- the Renkova and I are grandparents and she has no interest in the shooting sports). The fact is, I doubt the pointy-hatted bastards are ever gonna show up (its been 41 years now and no sign of 'em); but I found that target shooting (with proper safety protocols and protection at a good range) is just plain fun.
I know many are reflexively anti-gun; and given the realities of life for most of us, that's totally understandable (if you're not a hobbyist, as I am-- what's the point in today's world?) But consider this from the Dred Scott decision:
"... (Mr. Scott's petition) would give to persons of the negro race, the right to enter every other State whenever they pleased, …the full liberty of speech in public and in private upon all subjects upon which its own citizens might speak; to hold public meetings upon political affairs, and to keep and carry arms wherever they went. And all of this would be done in the face of the subject race of the same color, both free and slaves, and inevitably producing discontent and insubordination among them, and endangering the peace and safety of the State." [emphasis added]
Gun control started out as a means of keeping firearms out of our hands, the better to pacify us to our subservient position in American society. For that reason, if for no other, I am and will remain a gun owner.
"My guess is sometimes, but generally not. I suspect a lot of women figure that they'll get the gun they've been "asked" to get today to avoid getting a beating today and deal with tomorrow tomorrow."
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ferdzy, When I did domestic violence counseling, several women told me this. They also told me that the men threatened them with it later. But you're right, they felt they had to do it to keep him.
And this goes back to the self-esteem problem that mes deux mentioned earlier...Though it may not be as easy as we think, it's still a bad idea.
What bothers me about this post and the replies is it's sexism? If a woman is in an abusive relationship and controlling relationship she may buy the gun because he demanded she do it. Not all black women are that fist in the air, strong black woman.
Also, just because someone buys she a gift it doesn't mean you have to accept it.
Finally, the young lady may not be aware of his criminal past. Excuse me but when was the last time you asked someone for a credit or criminal check? Stop blaming women people. Why can't black men take responsibility for their own failings. Why must the black community always dump on black women. It's these men that actually DO the crimes. Just because you buy me a gun doesn't mean I have to turn around and shoot someone. I could go to a shooting range.
This is an interesting discussion. It's interesting that we make the assumption that women who buy guns for their ex con boyfriends are abused and coerced. Is it possible that some of these women are not abused but just have low self esteem and easily manipulated? And/or measure their self worth by whether or not they have a man? Any man? There are women who seek out men behind bars without anyone forcing them to. Maybe we are talking about desperation and not abuse.
I am very sympathetic to women who are abused. I have known a few. However, we should be as willing to hold women responsible for what they do as we do men. Especially if these women have children because the kids have no one protecting them.
"his is an interesting post, but I have to say that both, the post and comments leave a bitter taste in mouth; the bitter taste of misogyny!"
"What bothers me about this post and the replies is it's sexism? If a woman is in an abusive relationship and controlling relationship she may buy the gun because he demanded she do it. Not all black women are that fist in the air, strong black woman."
I swear, no matter how hard I try, I can't get away from that misogynist label. I will admit that I have a pretty good dose of testosterone. But I am very much in touch with my feminine side as well.
The point of this post was not to only blame the women for these irresponsible acts, but to show just how f****d up out culture and our environment is. Of course the men are mostly to blame. They are ultimately the ones who are committing these criminal acts with the fire arms that they were given. But the reality is that there are more than a few ride or die females here in Philly who contribute to this culture.
damn Ivan, you sure know your guns:) My knowledge of firearms is limited to reading my client's rap sheets and police reports. I actually have a permit and license to carry, but I don't. As you can probably tell from some of my previous posts, I am for gun control especially in urban areas, but I do respect the Second Amendment.
"I am very sympathetic to women who are abused. I have known a few. However, we should be as willing to hold women responsible for what they do as we do men. Especially if these women have children because the kids have no one protecting them."
co-sign with west coast story.
Field,
If your blog was about beer, p*ssy, and sports, you wouldn't even have these thoughtful, conscious theorist labeling you as a misogynist. But for some reason, the progressive yet strong brother is nit picked for everything from the way we write to the way we look, (back in the 90s I had some college woman actually label me as having hyper-masculinist face" -that's why she wouldn't appear on my radio show with me to discuss Chiapas.)or how we live our lives. There's a blog that called Maya Angelou a 'Ho'. I couldn't imagine you, me, Seattle Slim, or ever writing some shit like that, but you gotta be a misogynist? WTF?
To this very day Ishmael Reed has been labeled te same and yet no one could ever produce one line of text or personal instance that demonstrates his supposed sexism. Whatever...
Ignore and move on. That's the best way to deal.
Woooooow...that trend is emblematic of so many problems in Philly...
Personally though, I think an AK-47 would be a better engagement gift. You can't go wrong with something so tried and true. And after you shotgun it, you don't even have to clean it!
Brother Field. EXCELLANT TOPIC. We once again can't get pass Master Lynch's promise to the other slavers. Forget the message. Attack the messenger. STILLaPanther.
I am not mad , but tell me what are we suppose to do, the white folk are passing laws, that say if you just look like you are a danger
they can shoot you, ??????? Then bothers are labeled felons off the bat. Tell me my Brother , what is the answer the white folk arent gonna give up their guns. Some of the brightest the best of us, are in prisons or labeled felons so they can not legally own weapons. Seems to me like its going back to the BAD old days that a black person could not own a fire arm. YOU know all the nuts are stocking up weapons cause they are waiting for the ??????? comimg race war. Ha,Ha, educate me my brother.
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