Alameda County

Guns Don’t Kill People, But People Pull the Triggers

When I heard that the Oakland Post was publishing a notice of a rally for D.A. Pamela Price at the Alameda County Courthouse Sunday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. I told the publisher that I would invite some members of our newly formed organization, “Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back,” to attend the rally to show that we want to help rebuild trust and repair some of the harm that we caused to crime victims.

Published

1 year ago

April 27, 2023

Oakland Post

Some members of Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (l-r): Lorenzo Dadisi Benton, Terry Samaki Benton, Crystal Makini Owens, Elmo Hamin Dill, Rafiki, Minister KingX, Richard Wembe Johnson, Sun Ra, and Paul Sangu Jones is seated. Photo by Jonathan ‘Fitness’ Jones.

By Richard Johnson

I plan to speak to as many people as possible that it is time for us to tell others, especially our youth, to lay down their guns and roll up their sleeves to work for positive change.

Given the recent upsurge in gun violence and random shootings, I have written this column for us to understand the dangers and costs associated with the proliferation of guns and why we must do something about it.

“Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” is a slogan by the National Rifle Association. This statement seems self-serving for those who wish to pass the buck and not deal with reality: Guns are the tools that kill people, but it’s people who pull the triggers.

People kill for various reasons: mental health, hatred, gangs, drugs, or domestic violence, but when you remove the guns, the death toll drops significantly.

Furthermore, restricting gun access doesn’t eliminate the people’s Second Amendment constitutional right to keep and bear arms — on the contrary, what it can do is curb access to high-powered guns capable of mass murder, making it very hard for these guns to fall in the hands of people determined to kill people.

When you curb access, you minimize potential senseless killing by people with guns. Even though people have a right to arm and protect themselves, they also are expected to regulate their behavior and be responsible law-abiding citizens.

I firmly believe that those who stand in opposition to safer streets with fewer guns on them are catering to big business and politicians with ulterior motives.

The increased media attention is revealing to us that almost daily some people tend to snap, which often ends with some form of violence.

In the many countries where guns aren’t as easily obtained as they are here in the U.S. are not free of violence — it demonstrates that guns aren’t the main weapons used to inflict harm.

Our country has gunrunners importing and exporting weapons regularly. (I recently heard that a woman purchased more than 50 guns for a street gang she had ties to; chances are this isn’t an anomaly.)

Just like drugs, when you remove certain guns or make it harder to purchase deadly weapons, chances are fewer people will die by guns.

The proliferation of weapons capable of mass murder keeps our prisons, hospitals, graveyards, funeral homes, courts, probation, parole workloads, and much more filled to capacity.

When I saw that Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old boy who went to the wrong address in Kansas City, Mo., to pick up his younger siblings and was shot for ringing a doorbell, I thought of my son and the children of mothers and fathers of all races who worry for their safety.

Let’s remember the messages of the singer Freda Payne “Bring the boys home, bring them back alive, it’s time to turn this ship (of state) around, lay your weapons down ….Can’t you see them trying to get home?”

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Alameda County

Alameda County Democratic Party Opposes the Recall of Mayor Sheng Thao

In a decisive vote last week, the Alameda County Democratic Party, the local arm of the Democratic Party, announced its Opposition to the recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. The Mayor said, “I’m proud to have the Democratic Party stand in strong Opposition to the recall. What Oakland needs now is stability and continued progress in driving down crime and getting our streets clean. If the recall passes, it will create unimaginable instability for Oakland.”

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2024

Oakland Post

Alameda County Democratic Party Chair Igor Tregub explained their club's recall position by saying, "Mayor Sheng Thao has consistently demonstrated her commitment to Oakland’s values, including economic justice, housing affordability, and public safety.

In a decisive vote last week, the Alameda County Democratic Party, the local arm of the Democratic Party, announced its Opposition to the recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.

The Mayor said, “I’m proud to have the Democratic Party stand in strong Opposition to the recall. What Oakland needs now is stability and continued progress in driving down crime and getting our streets clean. If the recall passes, it will create unimaginable instability for Oakland. We could see four Oakland Mayors in the span of two years and possibly five Mayors within a span of three years. The recall will cost taxpayers upwards of $10 million, which is the same cost of having 35 officers on our streets. This recall is costly, risky, and is a transparent attempt, almost exclusively, by one millionaire hedge fund exec who lives in Piedmont to overturn a free and fair election.”

Alameda County Democratic Party Chair Igor Tregub explained their club’s recall position by saying, “Mayor Sheng Thao has consistently demonstrated her commitment to Oakland’s values, including economic justice, housing affordability, and public safety. The Alameda County Democratic Party is proud to stand with Mayor Thao and rejects this attempt to undermine her leadership. For more information, contact: OaklandersDefendDemocracy@gmail.com

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Alameda County

Man Charged in Deadly Hit-and-Run Collision That Killed an Oakland Teenager and Injured Her Mother

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Agusto Matias has been charged with multiple felonies as the alleged driver in a deadly hit- and-run incident, killing a teenage girl and injuring her mother. Matias, 37, is charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, D.U.I/alcohol causing injury, driving with a 0.8% blood alcohol causing injury, leaving the scene of an accident [death/permanent serious injury], and misdemeanor hit-and-run driving and unlicensed driver.

Published

4 weeks ago

September 16, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price.

Special to The Post

Matias, 37, is charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, D.U.I/alcohol causing injury, driving with a 0.8% blood alcohol causing injury, leaving the scene of an accident [death/permanent serious injury], and misdemeanor hit-and-run driving and unlicensed driver.

According to the complaint, the incident happened on or about August 19. It is alleged that Matias was fleeing the scene of a bumper-to-bumper collision on Havenscourt near International Boulevard when he allegedly struck and killed one victim and injured a second victim.

Both victims were in the crosswalk when the collision occurred.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my office has filed charges against an individual accused of extremely reckless driving that resulted in the tragic loss of a young life,” said District Attorney Pamela Price.

“I want to extend my condolences to the family. No parent should ever have to bury their child under such avoidable circumstances. Our thoughts are with them during this incredibly difficult time.

“This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired and reckless driving,” Price said. “It is a preventable crime that destroys lives, devastates families, and places all of our lives in danger unnecessarily. This type of unconscionable behavior will not be tolerated on our city streets.”

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code.

Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Alameda County

D.A. Pamela Price Charges Two with Attempted Murder in Freeway Shooting on Interstate 880

DA Pamela Price has charged Elias Nathaniel Jimenez, 22, and co-defendant Maria Rosalia Martinez, 43, with multiple felonies for an alleged freeway shooting in the City of Hayward. Both defendants are charged with one count of attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, an additional count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a large capacity magazine, among other charges. In addition, Jimenez is charged with two special allegations: use of a firearm and use of a loaded unregistered firearm.

Published

2 months ago

August 28, 2024

Oakland Post

D.A. Pamela Price. File photo

Special to The Post

DA Pamela Price has charged Elias Nathaniel Jimenez, 22, and co-defendant Maria Rosalia Martinez, 43, with multiple felonies for an alleged freeway shooting in the City of Hayward.

Both defendants are charged with one count of attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, an additional count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a large capacity magazine, among other charges. In addition, Jimenez is charged with two special allegations: use of a firearm and use of a loaded unregistered firearm.

The criminal complaint alleges that on or about Aug. 6, Jimenez and Martinez shot into another vehicle that was occupied by an adult and an underage passenger traveling on Interstate 880.

“These allegations involve shooting from a moving vehicle at another car driving on the freeway, which is beyond dangerous,” said Price. “The charges, which include enhancements, reflect the seriousness of these alleged crimes and my commitment to hold those accountable who use guns in our community for such senseless and violent acts.”

If convicted and sentenced of all charges, Jimenez faces a maximum of 23 years and 9 months in state prison while Martinez faces a maximum of 13 years and 2 months in state prison. Both defendants are scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on August 27 in Department 112 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse.