Arm Against 'Katricians,' Gun Dealers Tell Houston

[Rose Siding]

HOUSTON — When the "Katricians" rise up in violence, Houstonians had better be packing some serious heat.

That's the inflammatory message of a new gun-shop commercial on the radio that gives Hurricane Katrina evacuees a vaguely alien-sounding name, and advises Texans to take up arms to defend themselves against crimes committed by the newcomers.

"When the 'Katricians' themselves are quoted as saying the crime rate is gonna go up if they don't get more free rent, then it's time to get your concealed-handgun license," warns the radio ad by Jim Pruett, who co-hosts a bombastic talk-radio show and owns Jim Pruett's Guns & Ammo, a self-styled "anti-terrorist headquarters" that sells knives, shotguns, semi-automatic rifles and other weapons. As Pruett describes the dangers posed by "Katricians," glass can be heard shattering, and a bell tolling ominously.
...
As he sat behind the counter, beneath coils of ornamental razor wire along the ceiling, he said he did not consider his commercial racist and had no regrets.

"The storm washed up a lot of people who live off crime and getting the loot," he said. "The people who are here and have gotten jobs, that's a wonderful thing. They're Houstonians now. But the people who are still unemployed a year later, who are just sitting around doing nothing, they're 'Katricians.' That's the way I see it."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-guns18sep18,0,7064435.story?coll=la-home-nation

[meegbear]

1. What's the matter Pruett? Macaca's not good enough for you?

dirtbag

[ixion]

2. ah yes... from the nation Katricia

:eyes:

A fantasy nation from the folks in live in fantasy land.

[kedrys]

3. I know I'm gonna get flamed for this, but

I live in West Houston, where a lot of the Katrina refugees were put up in inexpensive housing by the city. In the year since, the nice neighborhood I moved into May of last year has turned into a crime pit - and it didn't take a year. I've lived in far less savory parts of town, and I've never had a guy shot three blocks from my house (two within a week, actually), nor had 4 cop cars effecting a drug bust ON MY BLOCK.

That said, Jim Pruett is a douchebag of long standing, and I'm not surprised he said what he said, because he's an unmitigated idiot. Plus he's trying to get his audience to buy their guns from HIM.

The law-abiding refugees (the overwhelming majority) are having the same problem, because they're affected by the criminal element just as long-time residents are, and it's not fair to them to broadbrush the lot with the tar of "they're all scumbags". They're not. Two of my coworkers came from New Orleans after the storm, and they're good people.

[Craftsman]

4. I live in Pasadena

And you are right crime has gone through the roof since Katrina. People are buying guns like crazy.

[BluePatriot]

5. As a Houstonian...

I second your comments -- Pruett is a douche, but we are having real problems here with crime post-Katrina. Our cops are overwhelmed. Revenue from those new red-light cameras is going straight to their overtime pay...