Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe: Northsiders, Get Your Guns

St. Louis alderman Charles Quincy Troupe last made it onto these pages in May when he publicly came out against the use of red-light cameras by the City of St. Louis, going as far as introducing a bill to get the camera ordinance repealed.

Now the Ward 1 alderman has again made headlines with comments that the recession and joblessness in the city is making thievery more common and burglars bolder.

According to the Associated Press:

"The community has to be ready to defend itself, because it's clear the economy is going to get worse, and criminals are getting more bold," Troupe, 72, said Tuesday.

Also in the AP story was this factoid: St. Louis has tallied 157 homicides in 2008, 33 more than last year at this time.

With more guns in the hands of residents, the killing rate could go up or down, depending on how bold the criminals -- or the gun owners -- get.

-Nick Lucchesi