Diablo Reporter

According to a crime statistic study put out by NeighborhoodScouts.com it looks like we are surrounded by dangerous cities. This study is based on the number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crimes include murder, forcible rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. Data used for this research are 1) the number of violent crimes reported to the FBI to have occurred in each city, and 2) the population of each city.

1. East St. Louis, IL
2. Flint, MI
3. Camden, NJ
4. West Memphis, AR
5. Saginaw, MI
6. Detroit, MI
7. Bessemer, AL
8. Chester, PA
9. Oakland, CA
10. Newburgh, NY
11. Chelsea, MA
12. St. Louis, MO
13. Atlantic City, NJ
14. Memphis, TN
15. Wilmington, DE
16. Alexandria, LA
17. Myrtle Beach, SC
18. Homestead, FL
19. Stockton, CA
20. Birmingham, AL
21. Inkster, MI
22. Jackson, TN
23. Muskogee, OK
24. Trenton, NJ
25. Harrisburg, PA
26. New Haven, CT
27. Spartanburg, SC
28. Atlanta, GA
29. Baltimore, MD
30. Rockford, IL
31. Cleveland, OH
32. Harvey, IL
33. York, PA
34. Little Rock, AR
35. New London, CT
36. Hartford, CT
37. Riviera Beach, FL
38. Texarkana, AR
39. Milwaukee, WI
40. Buffalo, NY
41. Rocky Mount, NC
42. Lake Worth, FL
43. Pine Bluff, AR
44. Bridgeton, NJ
45. Kansas City, MO
46. Washington, DC
47. Compton, CA
48. Desert Hot Springs, CA
49. Niagara Falls, NY
50. Nashville, TN
51. Bridgeport, CT
52. Lima, OH
53. Salisbury, MD
54. East Point, GA
55. Indianapolis, IN
56. Council Bluffs, IA
57. Fort Myers, FL
58. Miami, FL
59. Newark, NJ
60. Philadelphia, PA
61. East Palo Alto, CA
62. Daytona Beach, FL
63. Brockton, MA
64. Fort Pierce, FL
65. Baton Rouge, LA
66. Carbondale, IL
67. Weslaco, TX
68. Atascadero, CA
69. Richmond, CA
70. New Bedford, MA
71. Odessa, TX
72. Fall River, MA
73. Farmington, NM
74. Texarkana, TX
75. Paterson, NJ
76. San Bernardino, CA
77. Albany, GA
78. Springfield, MA
79. Poughkeepsie, NY
80. Beaumont, TX
81. Orlando, FL
82. Miami Beach, FL
83. Pompano Beach, FL
84. Youngstown, OH
85. Antioch, CA
86. Lawrence, MA
87. Gadsden, AL
88. Merced, CA
89. Canton, OH
90. Lauderdale Lakes, FL
91. Houston, TX
92. Monroe, LA
93. Danville, IL
94. Minneapolis, MN
95. Springfield, MO
96. Tulsa, OK
97. Sumter, SC
98. Cincinnati, OH
99. Dayton, OH
100. Knoxville, TN

What do you think of their list? Do you feel your neighborhood is safe?

The New Year is always a time for reflection.  It is a time to decide what we would like to improve in our lives.  Maybe it’s to eat healthier, lose weight, exercise more, become more organized, find a new job or many other areas of improvement in our lives.  But, I hope that each of you, no matter what your situation may be, enter into 2014 and challenge yourself to learn more, love more, give more, share more and be more.

Here at the Diablo Reporter we take pride in giving you access to all the best news stories, community resources, local events, cool activities and awesome opportunities. Our amazing little community has so much to offer all of us!

I want to take this moment to thank you, each of you,  from the bottom of my heart, for supporting the Diablo Reporter in our first year! So from me to all of you, have a wonderful New Year.  May your New Year be filled with lots of good health, happiness, and a year filled with opportunities in 2014!

Make 2014 your best year yet!!!

Join the Contra Costa Libertarians to share your opinions on today’s political climate and issues and learn how you can contribute to America’s political future. Everyone interested in Libertarianism is welcome!

The business portion of the meeting starts at 7:30. If you’d like to come just for the socializing, that usually starts at 8pm. There’s no charge. Drinks & snacks may be provided but it’s always nice to bring something to share if your able. Non-libertarians are welcome but you should have a healthy interest in politics.

The event will be held Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM.

If your interested in attending the meeting, joining Contra Costa Libertarians or just want to meet up with like minded people, visit their site to RSVP.

There’s a new gun law coming in 2014 that has gun owners stocking up on long guns now before a new registry begins new years day.

With only two days left until the law goes into effect, it has temporarily boosted gun sales across California. In the last week of 2013, gun sales are up 30 to 50 percent according to local retailers whom are having a hard time keeping up with the demand.

California expects rifles such as this Remington 700 (left) to be registered.

The registry goes into effect on Jan. 1, and would require long gun owners to register their weapons like handgun owners already do. It would track the make, model and serial number of the gun, as well as the person who owns it.

Previously dealers would destroy personal information on long gun owners after a background check had been completed. Now they’ll register those purchases with the state.

In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed Assembly Bill 809 into law. According to Brown’s statement:

 Anytime someone purchases a firearm in California, whether a long gun or handgun, their personal information is sent to the Department of Justice for a criminal background check. While purchaser information on handguns is retained, purchaser information on long guns is destroyed.

Since the state already retains handgun purchaser information, I see no reason why the state should not also retain information pertaining to the sales of long guns.

According to the law, tomorrow, December 31st is the last day to purchase non registered shotguns, long guns or rifles in California. While it takes approximately 10 days to pass a background check to be able to purchase a gun, as long as the financial transaction is completed before the end of the 31st, the gun will not have to be registered.

New gun owners have until January 20th to take possession of the gun to avoid registration. Guns purchased before Dec 31 but picked up after January 20th will have to comply with the new registration laws.

Many customers are stocking up on long guns now rather than waiting until 2014 when they would have to registered. Long lines, packed stores and rapidly decreasing inventory of long guns including rifles and shotguns are being reported from local retailers. Triple A Sporting Goods in Vallejo, pictured below, received a high volume of customers looking to purchase the coveted guns.

“It’s been busy as shit since the new law” says one gun dealer at Triple A Sporting Goods whom was literally running to help waiting customers. The store’s clerk also mentioned a shortage of particular guns and that they were sold out completely of certain things.

The owner of  Just Guns, John Deaser of Sacramento called the law an unnecessary invasion of privacy, despite his recent profit increase. Deaser says many of his customers are stocking up on long guns now rather than waiting until 2014 when they would have to register. “These are law-abiding citizens,” he said. “They’re not trying to beat the system or anything like that. They just don’t want to be tracked.”

The National Rifle Association claimed the bill violates the Second Amendment and will waste an estimated $400,000 in state taxpayer money.

One customer, a U.S. Combat Veteran, whom asked to remain anonymous wanted to make one thing perfectly clear. “The 2nd amendment guarantees all Americans the right to have and keep firearms. Any type of gun registration on any level is a violation of that amendment.” He also stated “When the U.S. government is putting out laws that are indirect violation of it own U.S. Constitution, you can be sure there’s a problem in our country.”