Houston News

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Gun debate prompts some stores to pull certain guns off shelves

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, a heated debate over gun control may have prompted some major retailers to pull certain semi-automatic rifles off their shelves.

You'll see semi-automatic rifles displayed at the Shiloh Indoor Shooting Range, but that's no longer the case at three big retailers.

Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods and now Academy have pulled certain types of guns from stores and the Internet following last week's deadly school shooting in Connecticut.

"It's the knee jerk reaction from people that we're having to deal with, and the knee jerk reaction is 'Oh my God, we have to do something,'" said Jeff Sanford with the Shiloh Shooting Range in northwest Harris County.

In a statement on its corporate website, Dick's Sporting Goods said:

"During this national time of mourning, we have removed all guns from sale and from display in our store nearest to Newtown and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chainwide."

Walmart yanked the "Bushmaster" military-style assault rifle from its web store. The weapon is in the same family of guns as the one Adam Lanza reportedly used to kill 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.

And while Academy refused comment, viewers contacted us saying, as of Tuesday afternoon, the chain's AR-15s were no longer displayed at stores.

"It's unfortunate that they're being pulled off the shelves, but at the same time, people are buying them," Sanford said.

For Sanford's customers, who fear a ban on certain guns, the time to buy is now.

"It doesn't have a mind of its own, it's not going to do anything without the user doing it," Sanford said. "We need to stop blaming the tool and start blaming the person behind it."

To offer some perspective, Sanford says that so many people are trying to buy guns that the FBI, which performs background checks, can't answer the phones fast enough and their phone line has been disconnected.

local, sonia azad

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Newtown shooting sheds new light on mental health, lack of funding for programs

NEWTOWN, CT -- The shooting in Newtown has also brought up questions when it comes to funding of mental health programs. The shooter, Adam Lanza, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. His family had resources, but many others do not. And in Texas, it can be difficult to get help.

The school shooting has put mental health back on the public policy radar, and in Texas, it is not a pleasant image. In fact, the Harris County Jail is now a symbol of what's become the largest mental health treatment facility in nation's fourth city.

There are about 9,000 inmates at the Harris County Jail, held for everything from misdemeanors to major crimes. But of that number, a fourth are housed in the jail's mental health unit, a psychiatric center of last resort.

"When there are no available treatment resources or facilities outside of the law enforcement correctional environment, then you push the problem over to jails and prisons," Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said.

The cost is huge. The state has cut mental health funding over the years, to the point it now ranks last in the nation, according to several studies. While outpatient mental health services cost less, in jail, when security, housing and medication is added in, it's estimated to have run about $70 million last year.

"We have 2,100 patients right now. We've been up to as high as 2,500 per month, for a long time," said Mona Lisa Jiles, an administrator with the MHMRA

At the county jail, the inmate patients are stabilized, put on medication, and if they aren't a danger to themselves or others, by law they are released. The problem is to what often it's to the streets.

"I think we always worry about them and often times unfortunately we see them back very soon," said Dr. Michael Seale, the jail's medical director.

With what's happened in Connecticut, there will be a call in the upcoming Texas Legislature to restore some of that mental health funding.

Connecticut school shooting, national/world, deborah wrigley

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Lawmaker may consider allowing some workers to bring weapons on campus

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Even as stores are restricting the sales of certain guns, some state leaders are calling for laws that allow school staff to carry guns on campus.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle says she would consider legislation that would allow teachers with a concealed carry license to take that gun into school but another state leaders says this debate seems to be cast in two extremes and there can be middle ground.

While in the classroom on Tuesday, teacher Elena Saner was thinking of the victims in Connecticut.

"I just wish I could hug them all and make everything better," Saner said.

For 26 years she's been at De Zavala Elementary, but the idea of anyone besides a police officer carrying a gun inside the school makes her uneasy.

"If teachers were to wield their guns, I think they would get in the way of first responders not knowing who the gunman is," she said.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson authored Texas' concealed handgun law in 1995 when he was a state senator. He suggests individuals who are comfortable and trained can provide defense at schools in light of the Sandy Hook shooter's actions.

"He was confronted by a principal and a counselor and he killed them. Had he been confronted by a principal who was competent with a firearm, we might have had a different outcome," Patterson said.

Patterson says that could mean more police officers, administrators or a teacher with a concealed handgun license -- but not everyone.

"You can't just go oh you are the principal, here is your gun," Patterson said.

Riddle says she will consider legislation that would allow a teacher with a concealed carry license to take the gun to school.

Saner believes there's a different way but that school security should always come first.

"Children are the backbone of our society," she said.

The topic is expected to heat up in Austin when the next legislative session begins in January.

local, christine dobbyn

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Deputies investigating woman's shooting death in SW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Harris County deputies are trying to figure out who killed a woman found dead in a driveway.

This happened at a home on Las Brisas near Paso Real in southwest Harris County this morning. Deputies say they found a woman dead in the driveway. She had been shot to death.

The medical examiner left with the woman's body and the car in the driveway was also taken away for the investigation. They're not releasing the woman's identity or age.

A family member who identified himself as the victim's uncle told Eyewitness News that the victim was at this location because her sister lives at the house.

A man with bags over his hands was led away from the scene, but so far investigators have given out very little information. We'll bring you updates as we get them.

local, elissa rivas

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Mass adoption ceremony performed in downtown Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- This Christmas will be extra special for almost 90 children who now have new permanent families.

A mass adoption ceremony was held Tuesday at the Juvenile Justice Center in downtown Houston. The children range in age from one to 17. Some were adopted by relatives, others have brand new parents.

The Haight family adopted a fourth son, giving the couple seven children now.

"It's amazing," said Charity Haight. "We've been waiting a long time and finally the day is here and we're going to go out for pizza now. That's what he wanted to do."

"You get a lot of people in a little place, but, you know, basically everybody's got a buddy and they just love hanging around each other," David Haight said.

Children's Protective Services officials say there are more than 1,700 children in its care waiting to be adopted.

local

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43-foot baleen whale found dead on Matagorda Beach

The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Galveston will perform a necropsy on the 43 foot baleen whale

MATAGORDA, TX -- Animal rescuers say a 43-foot whale has been found dead on a Texas beach.

The Victoria Advocate reports the baleen whale was discovered Tuesday on Matagorda Beach.

Heidi Whitehead with the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Galveston says it's definitely rare for a large whale to come ashore on the Texas coast. Whitehead says a necropsy was planned Wednesday.

Further details on the animal weren't immediately available.

Matagorda is about 90 miles southwest of Houston.

local

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Ambulance joyride ends with woman's arrest

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A joyride in an ambulance ended with a 26-year-old woman behind bars this morning.

Police said the woman stole a Houston Fire Department ambulance just after 10pm and took it for a ride, seconds after paramedics dropped off a patient at St. Joseph's Hospital.

According to investigators, EMS workers transported a patient to St. Joseph's, but when they returned to the ambulance, it was gone.

Another ambulance found the stolen emergency vehicle nearly 45 minutes later on Pierce near Hutchins.

Police believe the woman was under the influence of drugs when she allegedly stole the ambulance. Officials said the vehicle wasn't damaged.

The woman was taken into custody and faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

local

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

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