Multiple people shot in Lakeland, Florida, city says

I think what they are saying is that these states want to get rid of things like concealed carry gun permits. In other words, anyone can get a gun openly, all because of "supposed 2nd amendment rights." As I have said before, that is no excuse to have irresponsible gun owners. It might as well be the Wild West if they want to go down that route. Heck, they might as well just not have seat belts or anything. In many jobs, they require a background check, sometimes a Level 2 in certain instances, but as I said freedom does not mean you can be irresponsible. I think anyone who uses anything that could potentially be deadly must prove that they are capable of being responsible. It's no different than driving a vehicle. They always say freedom is not free, well with that comes a lot of responsibility.

Florida has permits and that did not stop them from shooting at people from the windows of their car. CA has permits and that did not stop the two mass shootings there.

It is not unique to particular states nor is it unique to the United States, but the United States seems to be the worst at that. But again, having a background check every time you get a gun is better than nothing. I am in no way saying that this is perfect, and things will fall under the cracks, but at least it would be a start. If not that, then what other options are there? I have yet to find a better alternative unless there is something I don't know. I do sometimes wish we could learn from other places on how to handle things like this.

I'm only 3 1/2 miles away, and the area it is in is not a very good area. The area around Memorial Blvd has a lot of homeless people. It is not a good area of Lakeland. If you decide to go there, you have to be very vigilant and keep your wits about it. So I am not surprised it is in a bad area.

Nonetheless it will be interesting to see who the suspects are.

welcome to DU!

I have read the reviews of many of the stores in the area, a lot of people are asking where is security and all that because there is a homeless population. In fact, near where this occurred, there used to be a bench on the bus stop near the Dollar General on Memorial Blvd. They got rid of it because homeless people would sleep there and the bus would stop and they wouldn't get on. So it is not a place you want to be walking around at night, and even in the daylight, you can't let your guard down. Basically, unless you have an absolutely good reason to be there, you should avoid that area and look for an alternative store. For example if you need to go to Walgreens, instead of going to that area, go to an alternative one. Really the area between when you go past the hospital (Lakeland Hills Blvd, which when you pass Memorial Blvd becomes Massachusetts Ave.) until you get to the Lakeland Police Department is not an area you should be near if you can avoid it. Everything else around the downtown area is good. But like all towns or cities, even during the day, you should keep alert. But again, I think it wasn't that long ago in another part of Lakeland (north side) and I think it was a murder-suicide.

Four shooters sounds like a gang hit.

I am not aware about any gangs here in Lakeland, at least none that I know of. I've been here for more than 6 years and I have not heard of any gang/drug activity here, but maybe there is and I just haven't really heard about it. I could be wrong, but part of me suspects that at least one of the suspects/victims may not have been originally from here. Lakeland isn't a big city, and Polk County is fairly big, but the population is mostly concentrated on the northern side. Once you go south of Bartow, it's mostly all rural. Most of the population in Polk County is around or not too far from I-4 (Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven). But again, I have not heard of any active gangs here. If there are any, it's local at most, but I think it is possible some of the suspects/victims may not be from here. It's too early to tell.