S.C. Rep. Kirkman Finlay (R-Columbia) blistered the judges who let violent criminals continue to roam the streets of Columbia, S.C. Among those criminals? The 20-year-old parolee whose bullet paralyzed a University of South Carolina student from the waist down last weekend.
Finlay owns a business in the violence-ridden Five Points region of Columbia – where the shooting occurred.
He said this latest incident “is not an isolated issue confined to a single locale.”
He’s absolutely right …
“Certain judges need to understand their job is to protect citizens, not to be lenient on criminals,” Finlay said. “Everyone deserves a second chance, but not unlimited and unsupervised chances.”
Finlay also ripped into city leaders for their failure to perform the core government function of public safety.
“The failure of the City of Columbia to protect its citizens is sad, disappointing and regrettable,” he said. “I hope that the city will call on the experience of other law enforcement agencies in any and all capacities.”
Or … maybe the city cops could stop wasting so much time busting kids for underage drinking and actually target their resources on real crime for a change.
Finlay also laid out what he believed the “cost of failure” – not only “lives ruined” and “families destroyed” but also economic damages and a major public relations problem for the University of South Carolina.
“If we cannot work together to stop this violence that takes place on the doorstep of USC and approximately one mile from the state capitol, we will all pay the costs,” he said. “Parents will not choose to send their children here to be educated. People will no longer be willing to invest and start businesses in Five Points or possibly other parts of the city.”
Indeed …
Props to Finlay for having the balls to call out these “thug life” judges and incompetent cops for their failure – and to push for reforms aimed at holding them accountable.
Finlay lost the 2010 mayoral election to Steve Benjamin – who famously declared Five Points “safe” several shootings ago. We bet there are plenty of Columbia residents who wish they had that vote back.
41 comments
Accountability, no one is ever held accountable USC, the citizens of Columbia, the Mayor, the chief of Police, the Judges and judicial system the perp was on parole.
FITS that’s not fair, you are totally mischaracterizing Mayor Benjamin’s statement. He clearly meant Five Points, nay, all of Colubmia, is safe for gun toting gangbangers – and diabetic alleged civil rights leaders (alleged diabet civil righst leaders? – I digress).
Now, if you are a female solider having a drink in a local establishment, or an interim police chief et cetera….that’s when the heavy hand, and the long arm of the Columbia and Richland County’s law enforcement’s finest will lay a hurt’n on ya’!
Columbia needs to do something about this rat hole or the university will start suffering from it.
There’s a university (i.e. a school of higher learning) in Columbia, SC????
That’s news to me!!!!!!!!
One of the solutions is for a wealthy or group of wealthy persons to purchase the most offending bars in Five Points and turn them into positive businesses, such as restaurants or green areas, which contribute to the safety of the area. Kirkman Finlay could lead that effort and transform Five Points.
Yes, punishing the innocent majority is always the best option. Close down all those evil bars and everyone will still come to eat turkey wraps and sit in a lovely park and chat. Just get the offenders a spanking and some taxpayer funded freebies and everything will be just fine, right? Right?
Tell me that was sarcastic….
Naw, man, she was dead serious. It’s the rich people’s fault, she’s already blaming Finlay IF he doesn’t pony up. Next post she’ll be trying to “hang ‘em high”.
“most offending bars?” close the fountain where all the thugs hang out instead?
Are you sure your name isn’t Sparkle Clark?
Annelle, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
Let the free market work!
This may come as a surprise, but you deciding what is or is not a “positive business” is not the “free market”.
The free market is when people use their own money to decide what business they will start to cater to those with money to spend.
A “free market” solution to the problem might start with a “free market” security patrol hired by the 5 points business owners that are given specific guidelines so as to not alienate the business owners clients(which may include, *gasp*, underage drinkers) yet keep everyone safe and shoo away undesirables.
You don’t even need to threaten the undesirables directly. You simply have a group of armed, open carry private security that decides they want to stand near a group of young men that are loitering around the fountain for example.
Oh,Lord.That is one fine man…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z7RblgcAvY
Bravo Mr. Finley, I’m glad that someone understands that you have to hold these morons in black robes responsible for repeatably letting out these violent bastards. I don’t mind my taxes going towards building more prisons to house these arrogant pricks that assault and kill law abiding citizens. But it won’t be long before the lefty Calvary comes out and claims profiling and racial bias.
Well just saw the first protest from ACLU about stop and frisk and racial profiling in TheState today.wooohooooo
What they need to do is Send (former) Deputy Sherriff Derrick down there to knock some heads and show all those young Soldiers causing problems how Marines treat Soldiers.
I say we rename Five Points to something more appropriate, like Dive Points or Hollow Points. Hit the deck!
Five Pints.
Hollow Points. I like it.
Same news different victim. Its time to acutually do something and stop the grandstanding. New leadership on the city circus (council) and ringmaster (mayor). And for heaven sakes get a police chief who is a true leader. Another words CLEAN HOUSE.
Amen, vote em all out from Washington to city hall !
Corruption and self serving people rule!
Wasn’t Benjamine named in that illegal gambling ring?
Plus, who’s his girlfriend at bone fish?
Amen!!!
Good Job Kirkman! Speak the truth and work for change!!
Thanks for speaking out!
If the citizens of Columbia really want to have something done about this problem
…SHOW UP TO THE POLLS ON NOVEMBER 5TH AND VOTE STEVE BENJAMIN OUT OF OFFICE! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Lillian McBride will see to it that this won’t happen. I’m sure there will be enough “absentee ballots” to cover any T-bone deficiencies experienced at the polls. Wonder what he’ll do to celebrate this go around?
“If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.” – Emma Goldman
Finlay owns a business in Five Points, so he has a vested interest and I’m sure he is concerned about his loss of revenue and business there. None the less, he is correct in his his statements.
The state of the Jean Toal led and legislative proclivity for electing it’s own members is in NO way part of the problem…..right! ;-) The entire judiciary is corrupt with incompetence and cronyism from the Supreme (Toal) court right down to the Toal controlled Family (corrupt) Court.
Again, vote em alol out from top to bottom. And people…. please…Obama’s reelection was a horrible mistake, let’s not repeat that with a Haley re-election. Then follow that course from Congress to Town Hall! If we do not wake from our apathetic, lazy slumber, we are truly screwed, as a nation, a State, and right to the local level.
Haley is not the perfect governor, or person, for that matter, but I’m sure as hell not voting for a guy sharing space on the same bumpers with stickers for Obama.
Maybe Kirkman also needs to speak with folks like his fellow rep, Todd “Pebble in my Shoe” Rutherford.
Thank you Captain Obvious.
Kirkman should be the mayor of Columbia, not this half stepping fool that’s currently ruining the capital city of South Carolina. T-bone should spend less time trying to emulate Ray Nagin and more time following in the footsteps of Knox White.
Maybe we should privatize the judiciary, police, and prison system. That’ll probably work. Right fits?
Can it really do any worse?
Like the guy who went to the Dr. and said,”Doc, I broke my arm in 3 places.” Doc said,” Stay out of those places.”
Five point/pints/whatever is one place my lily white ass won’t be going. Been there a couple times when my kid was in school down there, but no plans to ever go back. Same goes for the mother city in general. (or should I say mofo city)
What a shameful statement on SC.
Same here. Not even going to the fair this year. Gave away my tickets.
I wish Kirkman Finlay would have just been more direct and said, “The Columbia leadership (mayor, city council, City of Columbia Police Dept) are slow learners.” Leon Lott said it himself that the City Police can’t just throw a bunch of cops to patrol five points who have no training in Gangs. Leon Lott DOES HAVE a Gang Unit and has offered to help the City of Cola Cops. Maybe a few more shootings and Santiago will swallow his pride and accept the expertiece from Leon Lott.
I know when I was growing up, just being arrested was one count against you. Now, it makes you a movie star! They should do something about that whole glorification of material things thing.
Has anyone clicked on that “shocking French video” pic? … anyone know if its safe? I don’t know French at all… how much does she charge? What’s her last name?
One has to wonder when the caring city manager is going to pull some POS out of the wood work as the next Chief? No mention by pork chop Steve about a real idea or plan that might work. Wait we need to anoint pork chop to a full time fuck up with a big salary SUV with a cop driver and crew of ass kisser trailing behind. Then he will spring out his plan to keep the criminals on the street. Hell his wife needs to keep making bond deals.
So let’s see……MORE oversight for everyone else……and LESS oversight for me!
http://www.wistv.com/story/25206466/bill-would-give-politicians-30-days-to-repay-misused-campaign-funds