Comments on: Jabbor Gibson

By: cluttergirl

cluttergirl — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 06:00:10 +0000

I think the guy is a hero. Here is a Houston Chronicle story about it http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3334317 (the one that Sally linked to) But strangely most of the particulars are different… it says he was 20 not 18, it says he saved 50-70 people, not 100, it says he drove 13 hours not 7. Does anyone know the real particulars? thanks!

By: jet

jet — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 03:33:41 +0000

If you can believe this shit, I saw that this hero was actually arrested for a short period of time.

By: Barry Freed

Barry Freed — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 00:39:02 +0000

Good catch, Matt.

By: Gary Farber

Gary Farber — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 22:33:00 +0000

It is Jabbar, it turns out, yes.

By: Matt Weiner

Matt Weiner — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 20:30:31 +0000

Nothing I’ve read has pointed to anyone who’s actually planning to prosecute Gibson. It seems like it would be politically suicidal (at least right now).

When you can point to one post of one conservative who wouldn’t have made an exception for a citizen organizing their own rescue, maybe then you won’t look so ridiculous.

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan

Q Scott, do you cited the President’s zero tolerance for insurance fraud, looting, price gouging. Does he make any allowance for people who have yet to receive aid who are taking things like water or food or shoes to walk among the debris?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you heard from the President earlier today about his zero tolerance. We understand the need for food and water and supplies of that nature. That’s why we have a massive effort underway to continue getting food and water and ice to those who are in need. There are ways for them to get that help. Looting is not the way for them to do it.

By: Antti Nannimus

Antti Nannimus — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 19:27:10 +0000

Hi,

It’s probable at this moment the Bush Justice Department is writing a warrant for the arrest of Jabber Gibson for interstate transportation of stolen goods. The FBI will arrest him shortly. Jabber will probably spend years in prison for this. Compassionate conservative politicians will publicly congratulate each other for nailing him.

Have a nice day.
Antti

By: gzombie

gzombie — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 18:43:27 +0000

I, for one, believe that there will be differences between those two photographs—but I sure wouldn’t trust a gung-ho 20-year-old with an automatic rifle to make that determination in 2 seconds.

I agree about the 20yo with the gun. What would the differences in the photographs be?

By: J. Goard

J. Goard — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 18:16:04 +0000

gzombie:

I, for one, believe that there will be differences between those two photographs—but I sure wouldn’t trust a gung-ho 20-year-old with an automatic rifle to make that determination in 2 seconds.

What is really needed is responsible citizens taking charge on the ground, and knowing that they’ll truly be given the benefit of the doubt in court if they have to take out a rapist or a self-interested looter. Vigilanteism is primitive law enforcement, and it carries serious risks, but in a major crisis it’s far superior to a bunch of young outsiders trained to feel superior to “civilians” and to shoot at anything that frightens them.

By: rollo

rollo — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 16:33:13 +0000

It isn’t that the “shoot-on-sight” sportsfan/citizens want to shoot the “looters” per se – they want to shoot their social inferiors, and this gives them permission and opportunity to do that.

By: gzombie

gzombie — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 15:59:57 +0000

Re: “Shoot on sight.”

First, imagine a photograph of crowds of people taking clothing and shoes from a shop with smashed-in windows in order to hoard them and perhaps sell them later for profit.

Then imagine a photograph of crowds of people taking clothing and shoes from a shop with smashed-in windows in order to take them to a shelter with thousands of refugees who have been wearing filthy clothing for days.

Finally, describe the differences in these photographs.

By: Sally

Sally — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 15:59:31 +0000

I think that must have been a different bus, Bad Jim, because it went to Baton Rouge, while Gibson's bus went to Houston. But it does highlight something about Gibson. He could have taken a bus, driven it to where the rich people were congregating, charged for the ride, and made a big profit. He didn't. He picked up a bunch of parents with little kids, and they all pooled their money for gas and supplies. Incidentally, the guy's name is Jabbar, not Jabbor, Gibson.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 14:31:53 +0000

Ah Jet,
You see, that’s just the trouble with the “shoot on sight”! option- how do you know “on sight” whether someone is organizing a rescue or something else? Answer- you don’t. That, of course, was only one thing wrong with the “shoot ‘em!” crowed, but a pretty important one. It is, of course, on reason why we don’t normally think shooting people in anything but a life-threatening situation is a good idea, even by the police, but then, that’s not what the “shoot ‘em!” folks though, no?

By: jet

jet — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 14:25:34 +0000

Belle,
When you can point to one post of one conservative who wouldn’t have made an exception for a citizen organizing their own rescue, maybe then you won’t look so ridiculous.

By: Belle Waring

Belle Waring — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 13:37:05 +0000

if we had implemented a shoot to kill policy on looters sooner, we wouldn’t have had ~~problems~~ heroes like this.

By: John Isbell

John Isbell — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 13:31:59 +0000

” I hope this kid gets a medal before Michael Brown does.”
Yeah, that’s likely.