CardinalBacker

Whether they’re affected or not, they would still bring it home and infect others... moms, dads, grandparents. But I think we’re gonna have to open it up regardless.

The VIN is the key... if it starts with a 1, it was assembled here. Any other first number means a different country of origin.

Yeah... you can’t talk to kids at that age. And even if you did somehow manage to get your point across, all it takes is a pic of a nipple and everything that they know goes right out the window. I would have been the same way.

It’s tough because you have to draw a line somewhere. 3 years difference where the younger party is at least 14 is where the line got penciled in. It’s even more nutty because so many of us end up married to women who have a greater age difference than three years. And you’ve got kids trying to hash out the legalities with raging hormones. The whole situation is just goofy.

Yeah... I understood what Kountzer was saying he's just using backwards directions. Two ways of looking at it from my perspective. Either the young man was trying to avoid the confrontation by going around the right side of the truck (which is what I believe) or he was doing what my military friends would call a "flanking maneuver" which I highly doubt. My assertion was that by the time he got to the front of the truck (a) Mr. Arbery was in fear for his life and thought his best bet was to try and disarm the gentleman with the shotgun or (b) Mr. Arbery got angry and let his emotions and adrenaline get the best of him. I tend to think "b." Both parties had the option of doing things differently and I believe that if either of them had made better choices, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

That's not accurate. The homeowner had installed a motion detecting security system with three cameras after the place being visited a few times. On the night of 2/11 (12 days before the killing) the system notified him of an intrusion and he called a neighbor (Perez) who armed himself and went to the site. When Perez got there Travis (the eventual shooter) was there and the police were notified. I've listened to the 911 calls. Perez also believed that the subject captured on the cameras on 2/11 was Arbery. There is supposedly other photos of a person identified as Mr. Arbery in the structure as far back as December, but I can't verify that, so don't quote me. [Hidden Content] I personally don't think he stole anything from the site.

And if he hadn't made the decision to engage, it's also likely that none of this would have happened, either. That's the whole point I've been trying to make. I don't think anybody out there is solely responsible for what happened that day. I get what you're saying about the history of violence and the horrible things that have happened over time. But I think that there's a tremendous difference in the way that things are done today than there was in the "old days." My grandfather was born in East Texas in 1903. He was alive during the resurgence of the Klan and a lot of the horrible, bad stuff that happened way back when. My Dad graduated in the mid-60s and he can remember the Civil Rights struggles and animosity that occurred. The dogs, the water hoses, etc... I grew up and saw things like the LA Riots and OJ trial. Those were rough times, but nothing like the troubles faced by the black community 80-100 years ago. Not even as bad as what was going on in the '60s.... My kids have no idea what it's like to grow up in an era where the N-word is acceptable enough to use on Saturday Night Live... I was. So when I look at how far we've come as a nation and as human beings, I'm excited and proud. When people try to convince others that things like the black community experienced in the past are still ongoing, I'm obligated to speak up.

No worries... I've heard several people claim that they felt that the shooting of Mr. Arbery was a matter of self defense, but I disagree and feel the need to share the knowledge, lol.

I'll do you one better than that. In 2010 Robert Arnold was an off duty police officer in Orange, Texas.... He ended up in a confrontation with a "unarmed" white man (ironically named "Whitehead") at the local O'Reilly's Auto Parts and the end result was that Mr. Whitehead prematurely crossed the River Jordan to sing with the angels. That happened in Orange County, Texas.... Mr. Arnold was never arrested and no-billed by a grand jury made up from citizens from diverse areas such as Vidor, Bridge City, Little Cypress, Mauriceville, and Orangefield. I reserved judgment until I heard enough of the evidence to make me believe that, while the situation could have been handled other ways in hindsight, the black police officer wasn't criminally responsible for the death of Mr. Whitehead. It had nothing to do with race. Other than the victim's family, I don't remember anybody claiming that race was an issue. [Hidden Content] Once again... that's not San Francisco, that's not NYC... that's right here in our community. *Edit* and for what it's worth, the media was doing their thing there, too. "Orange cop who shot Marine" All indications are that the deceased was a violent drug user and had long since been discharged from the Marine Corps. But they gotta play up that racial angle if they want to sell more ads. Bastids.

Two of those people I knew personally.... and I drove through that intersection at Dowlen at the Eastex that Saturday about 10 minutes before the young Hispanic man was murdered at that spot. We ate at La Cantina and they wouldn't let us leave the area afterwards because of the ongoing investigation.... the shooters had fled and they were searching the area. And I still don't believe that any of the three were racial incidents. They were either robberies or fights that got out of hand. Race had nothing to do with any of them, in my opinion. And I don't think I'm wrong about the black community as a whole believing EVERYTHING is about race. Nobody has come up with ONE SINGLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE that would point towards this shooting in Georgia being race related, other than the fact that the shooter and deceased were of different races. NOTHING. Yet that's the headline and belief held everywhere.

Not by definition, but some kinda feel that way. I think hate crime legislation is laughable. Does it really somehow make it worse one way or the other if you're killed for your wallet or the color of your skin?

I don't think anybody has a valid claim of self defense in this matter. It basically goes something like "if you created the situation, you don't get to claim self defense." To illustrate, I can't get mad at my neighbor about his dogs, grab my shotgun and head over there, then shoot him when he gets his gun out and still claim self defense. I kinda set the table, if you know what I mean. My un-informed opinion is that you could make a good case for whatever their version of manslaughter is out there and should be able to get a conviction. I worry that their prosecutors will go too hard in the paint and be all "capital murder or bust" and end up with those guys escaping punishment for the role that they played in the killing. But I also don't see this as a racially motivated crime. I haven't seen one bit of evidence that would indicate that race was a factor at all, much less the main motivating factor. I'll need to see some memberships in a hate group, incriminating text messages, reports of hateful behavior by friends/family of the accused, etc... We just haven't seen that YET. The longer that this goes on without that evidence popping up, the less likely we are to see it, IMO.

It's all about perspective, my friend. I can speak for no one but myself, but I was disgusted when I saw that video. That's something no one wants to see. The big question isn't why the man was killed, but why do we all see the same video and have different opinions about what we just witnessed. While I recognize your point of view is firmly rooted-that you've seen what you needed to see and you believe a heinous murder was committed and that the shooter and all associated should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. FWIW, I also don't at all believe that the 3 white men involved are at all victims in this matter... This incident isn't cut-and-dried. There is more than one side to the story. It doesn't start and end in that 40 second video clip. I have problems with the 2 month delay before deciding to present the case to a grand jury. One of the former DAs also stated that the Grand Jury in that county isn't meeting because of the Covid pandemic and blamed the delay on that. That may be true, but I think that they should have long since been preparing to present the case to a grand jury regardless. I think that the first and second DA were bordering on protecting the accused in this case. But what you have now could also be a stretch. Now you have two men who were obviously involved in a killing that has questionable motives, but they are being held without bond. Are they a flight risk? Are they likely to do it again? Those are the two questions considered at bail hearings. They're being held without bail to soothe the masses. And I really don't care. They did their part(s) to bring about this situation. In an earlier post I detailed three different murders in Beaumont. White man, white woman, Mexican man.... all killed by black men. The important thing to note is that I don't believe that they were killed for the color of their skin. They were killed as a part of some other criminal act.... If race played a part, it wasn't the only reason. That's just how I see those incidents. On the other hand, any time a black person loses their life at the hands of another race, the black community assumes that the crime was racial at its core. It doesn't matter what the circumstances of the loss of life were.... it's because he was black and the killer should be sentence for a "hate crime." That same attitude is prevalent in all areas of life and it's what I believe is the primary reason that the black community has struggled to rise with along with every other ethnic group in the U.S. If a person of color loses their job... it's because they were black. The 18 year old man being prosecuted in Jasper for sexual assault right now.... it's because he's black. I challenge you to go to kjas's facebook page and read the comments and accusations being thrown around. It's horrific, and mostly racial in nature. Surprisingly enough, there isn't anybody posting anything negative about the race of the young suspect.... It's almost purely the supporters of the young man claiming (surprise) that the prosecution is racial. I do have a serious question for you to ask yourself, though. It's obvious that you have strong feelings about this particular case. Are you as concerned about the killings that happen there in Port Arthur when there isn't a white person involved? Do they bring out the same strong feelings that you have about this case? If those killings don't bother you like this one in Georgia did, I'd be curious to know why.

I've never bought a foreign vehicle, other than a few 4 wheelers and a jet ski. I'm kinda torn when I realize that so many Toyotas and other foreign autos are made here. I mean... Buying a 'yota made in Shreveport or wherever is better than buying one from overseas, right?

We'd talked about that yesterday. Once again, the media is twisting the narrative. The Dad (who IS a doofus, apparently) had not been taking his Continuing Education (CE) courses to maintain his peace officer's certification. That actually happened twice. There was a period of 8 years (2006-2014) in which he didn't complete his CE hours and he had his peace officer's license suspended in 2014. He requested and received a waiver and got his accreditation reinstated. He once again lost his certification in 2019 for not completing the required hours in 2018... this time he worked in a diminished capacity until his early retirement. The twisting comes in like this.... "Ex-detective charged in death of Ahmaud Arbery lost power to make arrests after skipping use-of-force training." The truth is that he didn't lose his license after skipping use-of-force training... he lost his power to make arrests after skipping ALL of his required training. But if you're pushing the narrative that this guy is a psychotic redneck vigilante, "losing power to make arrests after skipping use-of-force training" has a nice ring to it. The other fact comes that you don't HAVE to be a certified peace officer to be a criminal investigator in Georgia. You can still do your job, but you just don't have the power to arrest anybody or request warrants, etc... So the news is basically slamming him for losing a license he didn't need. Just so you know I'm not making this up... here are links. [Hidden Content] Section (c) states that you criminal investigators don't have the right to arrest, etc unless they have police officer certification [Hidden Content] And these (c) are the qualifications to be a criminal investigator in Georgia. You don't HAVE to have your peace officer's certification. I had kind of wondered about that subject. Every investigator that I can think of is a former LEO and their certifications here in Texas are sponsored by a friendly Sheriff or police chief. I had been wondering if this guy was still certified, and if so who was carrying his certification. I guess it's becoming obvious that he no longer had his peace officer's certification. It also brings into question any actual "police work" that he may have performed during the time that his license was suspended. Not behind on CEs, but suspended. If he was making arrests or requesting search warrants during the time his license was suspended, then YES... there would be real problems with those particular prosecutions.

[Hidden Content] According to KJAS, the Pineland Municipal Court is reporting that the 14 year old came forward and reported a sexual assault and named Collins and an unnamed juvenile from Jasper as her two attackers. Also alleged some type of restraint was used against her. Those details (if true) would kind of take it out of the "Romeo and Juliet" type of situation that we'd all been kind of hoping for and move it into something a little more sinister.

Seriously, though... I’ve read tons on the subject. I hope that’s obvious. Yours is the first report I’ve read that indicates that the men had tried to stop him “2 or 3 times” prior to the fatal encounter. One of us is mistaken, and I’d like to know if it is me. American history is also replete with a history of Indian attacks. Should “being scalped” be something I worry about? Lastly.... Cody Crabtree was killed in broad daylight at an apartment complex parking lot in North Beaumont a couple of years ago. Kara Teel was also murdered as she got out of her car at a different apartment complex a few years later. Last summer a Hispanic gentleman was shot to death under the Eastex Freeway after leaving Cici’s Pizza. What do all of these three murders have in common? All three victims were unarmed, and all were killed by young black men. I’m not talking about Brunswick, Georgia.... or Tallahassee, Florida.... or Ferguson, Missouri... I’m talking about the north side of Beaumont, Texas in the last 6 or 7 years. But keep believing that “hatred and bigotry” (you left out privilege) are the biggest problems in America.

That’s the first I’ve heard about them trying to stop him numerous times. Can you point me towards a source? I hope you’re right, because that’s just more evidence that the “psycho redneck vigilantes” didn’t intend to kill Mr Arbery or they would have shot him at their first encounter. Or at least locked and loaded their weapons, right? That’s the kind of thing I’m talking about, though. The whole lie about folks being taken out into the woods and disappearing. The only documented racially based white on black murder that I can think of happening in SETX in the last 30 or so years was the dragging death of James Byrd, Jr in Jasper. Now, we all heard the same “drug off into the woods story about the young man from Jasper who died up in Sabine County (Albert something... sorry that I’ve forgotten his last name)... but that story lost all of its steam when it was revealed that he died of natural causes. The Leday young man that died in Lumberton was also thought to have been foul play by the Lumberton PD (Rev Quannel X came down and everything) but it also went quiet after it was revealed that he also died as a result of a heart attack if I remember correctly. Over and over you’re been led to believe stories about the tooth fairy, the easter bunny, “hands up, don’t shoot,” Trayvon Martin got killed for going to buy some skittles and Arizona Sweet Tea, and this guy got blasted while out jogging, etc.... I don’t blame you for feeling the way that you do... you’ve been lied to. Serious question. Who do you think is safer. A black man walking around Vidor at 2 in the morning or an overweight 47 year old white man like me walking around Carver Terrace at 2 in the morning? That’s an honest question.

I didn’t take her comment that way. I’d just spoken about the high rates of violent crimes committed by young black men. She was countering my assertion, and she’s right... young white men are responsible for most mass shootings.

He wasn’t killed over a possible burglary. He was killed in a struggle over a gun. I’d wholeheartedly agree with you if those men pulled up and just blasted the kid... but that’s not what happened and you all want to keep pretending like the physical attack that preceded the shooting didn’t occur.

I agree completely... I think Silsbee is a consistent 4/5 round team that could possibly see Arlington if the cards fell the right way. Except for Carthage. I can’t stress how much it means for a the most dominant force at D1 to drop into D2 Region 3. I also have a feeling that Silsbee will have a hard time facing WOS and Jasper each possibly twice by the third round. Those games will be brutal and should have a few kids on street clothes for a few weeks after. This is the point that I’m always trying to make about Newton and their success... they schedule tough comp in non-district and then have non-contact scrimmages up into about the 4th round. The team coming out of 4AD1 Region 3 will be limping into the 5th round.

The family COULD have come to the conclusion that the young just “has an itch she cant’t scratch” and gave up trying to restrict her. I’ll be honest.. if my baby girl was involved with one older guy who got in trouble, the popped back up with another one (knocked up), I don’t think I could unashamedly walk into the police station and demand action on behalf of my baby again. But some folks see racism. It could be either or neither. We just don’t know.

The old man apparently let his peace officer certifications fall 8 years behind while he was an investigator for the DA’s office. Make no mistake.... these guys are clowns, too.

Well, let’s just say that know I don’t fight that good.... and I don’t have an ASP handy.... or a tazer.... in your scenario I’m just supposed to take my beating? If you attack me, I don’t have to say “oh, he’s punching me, but I’d better not use this stick. That wouldn’t be fair.” That’s the criminal mindset that I can’t stand. “I’m committing a crime by attacking you, but there are a set of rules that you can’t break in the manner in which you respond to MY breaking of the rules. How dare you!” A fight is when two people agree to combat to as a means to settle their differences. If one party is unwilling to participate in that combat, then what you have is an assault and THAT crime is what gives the victim the right to defend themself as they see fit. Probably five years ago there was a death at the furniture warehouse at the corner of I10 and MLK IN Beaumont. There was an dispute between the manager and an employee. The employee punched the manager one time.... the manager fell and struck his head on the concrete and died from his injury. I’m certain that the employee only wanted to give out a bloody nose, but look how it worked out. I repeat... ANY TIME YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON ANOTHER PERSON, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOU WILL BE JUSTIFIABLY KILLED FOR DOING SO. That’s the lesson that should be taught. I’m 47 now... that ground is a lot harder than it used to be and I don’t have enough cardio to protect myself for more than about 45 seconds. I’m not gonna mix it up with anybody. So what do you think will happen if somebody decides to hurt me? Somebody’s mama will be on the news crying about how her baby was unarmed.

You definitely have a right to carry a gun. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I didn’t see the shotgun pointed at anybody. By the time confrontation really got started they were both in front of the truck and shielded from the camera view. The whole premise of self defense is debatable for both parties in my opinion. I don’t think that the shooter can claim SD because he basically set the stage for the confrontation. On the other hand, just holding a gun does not equate to brandishing or threatening, so I don’t know just what would qualify as just cause for Mr Arbery to initiate a physical struggle with the man holding the shotgun. And if the young man was in the commission of a crime (which I don’t believe) he wouldn’t be able to claim it either. You can’t show up to rob a bank with a pistol and then claim self defense if you kill a security guard who tries to shoot you. I have a nasty suspicion that the physical struggle was initiated out of a desire not to be apprehended by the same guy who was previously responsible for jailing the deceased. Once again, just my opinion. The only thing that’s clear is that this whole thing shouldn’t have happened. That doesn’t mean that the guy who survived is wrong.