Photo taken at a gun shop protest, used with permission from the Heeding God's Call Media Library.

This is a followup to our feature on the vigil held for slain jeweler William Glatz.

It is 2 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2009. Mennonite Pastor J. Fred Kauffman is handcuffed, standing in a dingy holding cell somewhere between Spring Garden and Ninth Streets, divulging his personal information to a judge through closed-circuit TV.

“What are you in for?” The female Judge asks.

“Oh, I was sitting in front of Colosimos”

“Oh, really? You were in the paper! See here!” she says, holding up a copy of that day’s edition of the Metro.

“Listen, brother,” she continues. “We are living in the last days and we need to take a stand against this violence!”

Kauffman says later “I felt like I was in church.”

The judge would continue to speak with Kauffman for “about half an hour about pastors and religious leaders having to do what they are called to do to confront this violence,” Kauffman recalls. continue reading »

In following online forums and comments, we noticed crime stories around the Northeast often lead to discussions about gun ownership. In this four-part series, we’ll hear from four Northeast residents on why they own guns, and their beliefs surrounding gun laws. Read part one. Read Part two. Read part three.

This is Donny. The 44-year-old Mayfair resident owns six guns.

NEast Philly: How long have you been a gun owner? continue reading »

Mike's guns -- Top left to right: Colt Commander Series 80 .45 ACP, Berretta FS-92 9mm pistol, Glock 26 9mm pistol. Middle left to right: Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum revolver, Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 revolver, Smith & Wesson Model 40 double-action only revolver. Bottom left to right: Smith & Wesson Model 637 Airweight, Berretta .25 ACP Bobcat.

In following online forums and comments, we noticed crime stories around the Northeast often lead to discussions about gun ownership. In this four-part series, we’ll hear from four Northeast residents on why they own guns, and their beliefs surrounding gun laws. You can read part one here.

This is Mike. The 45-year-old Fox Chase resident owns nine guns.

NEast Philly: How long have you been a gun owner?

Mike: Thirty-one years.

NEP: Why do you own a guns? Was there a specific event that motivated you to get one?

M: No specific event motivated me to buy a firearm, as I grew up with them. I was taught the fundamentals of shooting and firearm safety at an early age. My dad bought my brother and me a .22 bolt-action rifle when we were kids and taught us how to target shoot. We further learned about rifle and shotgun safety when my brother and I were in the Boy Scouts and participated in the S.P.O.R.T. (Sportsmen Policing Our Ranks Together) program. I didn’t acquire my first handgun until nine years ago.

NEP: Are your guns registered? continue reading »

This is an AK-47 owned by Holmesburg resident Vince. It's a Yugoslavian import model M70AB2.

In following online forums and comments, we noticed crime stories around the Northeast often lead to discussions about gun ownership. In this four-part series, we’ll hear from four Northeast residents on why they own guns, and their beliefs surrounding gun laws.

This is Vince. The 34-year-old Holmesburg resident owns 12 guns.

NEast Philly: How long have you been a gun owner?

Vince: I finished my tour in the Marines 11 years ago, and ever since then I’ve owned firearms.

NEP: Why do you own a guns? Was there a specific event that motivated you to get one?

V: Nothing in-particular. My grandfather was an avid marksman and so was my dad — so its in our blood. We are all veterans.

NEP: Are your guns registered? continue reading »

District Attorney Seth Williams at the June Northwood Civic Association meeting.

Seth Williams says he doesn’t always wear his seat belt while driving.  Philadelphia’s District Attorney also says he was recently caught by a red-light ticket camera.

Lessons for enforcing driving in a town whose DA has broken a law or two can be implemented citywide. So Williams told 30 residents at Tuesday’s Northwood Civic Association meeting in the basement of St. James Church.

“It’s not the severity of punishment that changes behavior,” he said. “It’s the certainty of punishment.”

It was one of four hallmarks he gave for his developing administration, before taking questions from a community that has characterized itself in a quality-of-life war against blight and crime.

continue reading »