The title of this Philadelphia Daily News article, "A gun dealer's history of violence," might understandably lead one to believe that the article is about . . . well, a gun dealer. A bit of reading quickly reveals, though, that Rodney Phath is no more a "gun dealer" than a gang banger selling crack is a pharmacist, and that Phath is about as likely to obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL), as he is to win the Nobel Peace Prize. To the Philly Daily News, though, the fact that he sold some guns on the Philadelphia streets makes him a "gun dealer."
In February, 24-year-old Rodney Phath was allegedly peddling assault rifles and the drug Ecstasy on Mifflin Street near 19th in South Philadelphia.Note the obligatory mention of the "high-powered assault rifle" of the type used to kill Sgt. Liczbinski. That's not what I plan to focus on today, though--this is:
One of the rifles was an SKS, the same type of high-powered gun that killed police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski on May 3.
After Phath was arrested for weapons offenses, conspiracy and possession on Feb. 11, Bail Commissioner James O'Brien set bail at $25,000. Phath posted bail the next day and was free to go.And this.
In September 2006, he was arrested again for attempted murder, simple assault, aggravated assault and related offenses for allegedly shooting a former roommate after an argument, according to court records.Beginning to notice a pattern here? Oh, and let's not forget this:
When police arrested Phath, they confiscated a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, a .380 pistol, a .22-caliber semiautomatic rifle and a .25-caliber rifle from his home.
The charges were withdrawn or dismissed, court records show.
A month later, Phath was re-arrested on the aggravated-assault and weapons charges. The charges were eventually once again dismissed, according to court records, which didn't indicate the reason.I won't count his 2004 arrest, for carrying a loaded BB gun in his car (you can get arrested for having a loaded BB gun?).
After Phath's posting of bail in February, he was still free to commit more crimes--a situation of which he, of course, took advantage. He was recently arrested again, after an armed home invasion/robbery. Philly's penchant for refusing to lock up violent criminals, allowing those experienced thugs to go on to commit more mayhem, has been discussed before, and as far as I'm concerned, makes the "justice" system an accomplice to every murder committed in Philly by violent, uncontrolled beasts who should have been locked up for their previous acts of savagery.
Mayor Nutter is so bent on "getting guns off the streets" that he is willing to break the law to do it--would it be inappropriate to suggest that perhaps he instead focus on getting the criminals off the streets?
Stumble it!
11 comments:
It would be more appropriate if Nutter was one of the thugs moved from the street to prison. He is, after all, a willing accomplice to the violent thugs and a lawbreaker and destroyer of civil liberties on his own hook.
I think you just cleared up for me why Nutter's focus is not on locking up criminal thugs, SA.
sounds just like most of the criminal's in chicago that are shooting people. Everytime i read about a shoting in chigago the perp has an extensive criminal record, like the kid from a month ago that was 25 years old and was arrested 20 times.......how is that possible to be arrested that many times and still be walking the streets?
Gravyboy77
Hold it...hold it...I don't think you understand, Law Enforcement is a "Growth Industry," according to speeches by Rudy Giuliani, all over the US, and, England.
If all the Criminals are in Jail or Prison there will be no need to hire more "Only Ones," and, ordinary citizens might begin wondering why we need all these Cops, Lawyers, and, Judges.
"Just the facts," you know?
The problem has always been the judges and bail commissioners. O'Brien is an egregious offender with regards to little to no bail.
It also doesn't help that he treats us PPD detectives like crap.
The loaded BB gun thing is pretty weird, but as I found out from Sebastian -- accidentally, as I had never heard of such a thing -- it is illegal here to have a loaded long gun in your vehicle. So maybe they called it a long gun.
That is odd, although living in Illinois, as I do, I obviously have little room to make fun of other states' gun laws--and PA's are generally pretty good, relatively speaking.
I agree, Wyatt, cops are not the problem, it's the 'criminal' Justice System that uses detectives and Street Cops to keep the Doors of Justice whirling.
Yeah--I certainly wasn't trying to implicate the officers. Their job is getting done, obviously (Phath keeps getting arrested).
Seems to me that the rule against a loaded "long gun" in a car is one of the very few "reasonable" gun laws. The "burden" it places on the owner of the gun is very minimal and it actually is safer for all involved considering the handling characteristics of a rifle in the tight space of a car.
And I'm one of those guys that think machine guns and suppressors should be available at the local hardware store -- without a "background" check of any type.
As gun laws go, that would be one of the last ones I'd get very worked up about, I suppose.
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