Gino Ascani wins Anti-Crime Award

Firefighter and anti-crime activist

responds when four criminals try
to rob homes and cars. Given the
Hero of Home Defense Award.
Im not the type of person that can sit in my window
when criminals are blatantly breaking the law. Lakeview resident Gino Ascani

by Mike Weinberger
In an exclusive interview with the Crime Safety
Reporter, firefighter Gino Ascani explained what happened on
August 22nd, when he was alerted to the presence of armed
criminals in his driveway at about 2:30 AM. Long story short,
he left the house and took action that eventually helped the po-
lice arrest the four suspects - but not before they took shots at
Gino - and thankfully - missed.
For his herosim and anti-crime efforts Gino was pre-
sented with the Hero of Home Defense Award by the Home
Defense Foundation (HdfNola.org) at its September meeting.
Here is Ginos story:
driveway. So she told me, Theyre in the driveway, and I
jumped up, grabbed my shoes, shorts and my firearm, and I
told her to call 911.
MW: What happened next?
GA: I looked at my cameras and I saw two of them
checking out the doors of my two vehicles, one on each door,
and I also saw two more of them in the street. When I poked
my head outside, I could tell that they were down the block.
And so I just walked after them to kind of keep an eye on them,
waiting for the police to show up, and as soon as I got to the
corner, they had kind of went around the corner. And when I
exposed myself and yelled, thats when they all took off and
ran.

MW: Tell me what happened that night. MW: What happend after that?

GA: I was sleeping, and my fiance heard a noise on the Continued on page 3
camera system, which has audio, and she heard the clicking of
Mike Weinberger, a retired attorney and businessman, is the founder of the
the door handle. She looked up at the TV and saw people in the
Home Defense Foundation, HdfNola.org

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p3
Ascani wins Home Defense Award, continued
GA: Two ran to the left and two ran to the right, because they
were hitting both sides of the street. The criminals, thats what they do,
each person doesnt check the same car. They go from car to car like,
almost like one after the other after the other. And so its meticulous
how they go down the block, and theyre very efficient as far as check-
ing all the doors.
MW: After they started running, what did you do?
GA: I started chasing the two that went to the right, and then as
Im running, I scream for them to freeze again, and thats when I heard
the shots directed at me. And I turned my firearm toward the gunshots,
but I did not fire. I saw one guy go down the alleyway, and there was
another one, a girl, who ran straight.
MW: And after that?
GA: The guy ran down the alley. The girl ran down the street
to Argonne, and they both went southbound toward the interstate, and
then they circled back around the block. They circled back to get into
their vehicle.
MW: After they got into their car, what heppened next?
GA: As they were going in their car to pick up their other two
accomplices, thats when the cops intercepted them and got in pursuit.
Then the criminals flipped their car over and they got out and hid under
a horse trailer, which couldnt have been more ironic for them, because
they were under a police horse trailer!
The four suspects, photo courtesy of The Advocate.
Gino Ascani, on the right, is presented with the Home Defense Founda-
tions Hero of Home Defense Award by the author, on the left.
MW: They were under a police horse trailer?
GA: Yup. They were under a police horse trailer.
MW: Well, thats poetic justice, right?
GA: It is. And eventually, all four were caught thet evening.
MW: . Obviously, this shows you have an opinion on citizen
involvement on crime. Please explain it to us in your own words.
GA: Im not the type of person that can sit in my window when
criminals are blatantly breaking the law. Its not that Im trying to do
the polices job, but I know the police cant be everywhere all the time.
And in my opinion, I think the police do a great job with what theyre
dealt with. Theyre undermanned, underpaid, and have all these re-
strictions that are placed on them with the consent decree, so they are
basically working blindfolded.
MW: Would you say the poice are trying to do their job with
their hands tied behind their back?
GA: Yes. So many of these criminals, they already have re-
cords. They have all been arrested by the police many times before,
over and over again. But yet theyre all back out on the street time and
time again. And so where is the breakdown? Whose fault is it that
theyre on the street? Its my understanding that the guy involved in my
case, the other three were girls, was arrested in 2015. He got six years
in prison but then they let him out for good behavior. That is why we
cant count on the government to protect us. They cant. Thats why
law abiding citizens have to learn how to protect themselves.
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LaToya Cantrell: Nothing
Stops a Bullet Like a Job
by Jeff Crouere
Mayoral candidate Latoya
Cantrell says Nothing stops a
bullet like a job.
She apparently thinks that if
we offer violent criminals who
shoot people a job they will
become hard working, taxpay-
ing citizens and leave their life
of crime. Really?
As a policy statement, Nothing stops a bullet like a job ranks
right up there with other great observations, such as:
Nothing stops a house fire like an apple pie, - or
Nothing cleans a drain pipe like a good nap .
If New Orleans elects someone who believes this nonsense how
will shootings by violent criminals be lessened?
REALLY ?
p5
Criminals who shoot people, often because they feel dissed
or because a rival drug dealer has entered their territory, lack the
most basic qualities that make a person fit for gainful employment.
Offering them a job wont change that.
Here is the truth: Most violent criminals have little or no
self control. They do not follow directions and they have nev-
er learned how to interact with law abiding citizens in a consis-
tent and normal manner. Offering them a job will cure them of
these maladies just like eating pizza will cure high blood pressure.
Guess what? It doesnt.
We need a mayor whose policies make sense. Proclaiming
Nothing stops a bullet like a job is non-sense. We need to take vio-
lent criminals off the streets of New Orleans and we desperately need
a Mayor who will make crime fighting the top priority. In short, we
need a Mayor who believes in real solutions, not meaningless slogans.
Jeff Crouere, a New Orleans native, is the author of Americas Last Chance,
available on JeffCrouere.com. Contact him at jeff@ jeffcrouere.com
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 Heard On The Street
People in Mid City were asked:

Do you believe the government when

they say crime is going down?

Lucina Anderson: I dont believe the

government when they say crime is go-
ing down. One reason is because crime
in the government is going up.

Gordon Dumont: I just think they say

that because its in their interest, espe-
cially a city like this, where its tour-
ist oriented. So they only report what
they have to.

AJ Buchbaum: Absolutely not, crime

in this city is probably as high as
its been in a good couple of years,
from what Ive seen. They prey on
Join us high status kids coming from out
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 If you are concerned about
crime and the future of our city,

VOTE
in the upcoming mayoral race
for someone who makes sense.

Remember, if the captain of the

Titanic had made choices that
made sense, well, you know.....
 You CAN make a difference !

Oh, whats the use ? - Thats what most people think. They
think they cant change what the government does, like when they
release violent criminals on the street again and again.

But you would be surprised at how easy it is to change the way

government works when just a few people get involved. For example,
the ten people shown above blocked a terrible law from passing re-
cently by visiting the State Legislature and speaking their minds. See
2016 - Self Defense Law Saved at HdfNola.org for the story.

How is it done ? Come to a meeting of the Home Defense

Foundation to find out. There you will meet neighbors who know
how to change the law. And besides, HDF meetings are fun. There
are free raffles and always good speakers. So come to a meeting,
learn, and get involved. You CAN make a difference!

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7th. Sorry, this raffle is for seniors only.

Websites: StBisc.com and HdfNola.org

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 Troy Henry Endorses Honest Citizen Pledge
by Ian Templeton
To put our public safety crisis in
even more perspective in 2016 NOPD
Attendees at the last Home Defense Foundation meeting-
responded to an average of 10 shootings
saw mayoral candidate Troy Henry take the podium to discuss pol-
a week. Someone was killed in a third
icy, answer questions, and yes to sign the Honest Citizen Pledge!
of the shootings responded to.
The pledge says that when an honest citizen defends himself
This toll on human life is uncon-
against a criminal, ALL doubts should be resolved in the citizens
scionable and downright unjust. You
favor. Mr. Henry is the second mayoral candidate, along with Mi-
cannot have a first-class city with third-
chael Bagneris, to endorse the pledge. This is important because
world crime. But take hope readers,
the mayor can direct the police NOT to automatically arrest honest
because citizens of all classes, races
citizens who defend themselves during criminal attacks.
and religions are beginning to respond to this problem, as growing
support for the Honest Citizen Pledge proves.
In the past, such citizens have frequently been arrested on
specious and spurious grounds. Merritt Landry, for example, was
The Pledge is a step in the right direction because it
arrested in 2013 after defending his home and pregnant wife from
promotes the safety and welfare of all honest New Orleanians.
an intruder. In 2015, homeowner Abraham Venson was arrested
Honest citizens deserve to be protected by the law. An honest
after he defended himself against two intruders.
citizen who fights off a criminal attack should not thereafter be
attacked by the political and legal systems. This is unfair. To
Arrests of honest citizens like these stand in stark contrast
find out how you can join with likeminded neighbors and support
to the reality of crime in New Orleans. Our per capita murder rate
the Honest Citizen Pledge please visit HdfNola.org.
is one of the highest in the nation (as of 2016 it is higher than Chi-
cagos). And according to the NOPD roughly 90 percent of New Ian Templeton is a Commercial Real Estate Advisor in New Orleans.
Orleans murders involve gunfire. He can be reached at itempleton@latterblum.com

Check out the

Home Defense Foundation
Neighbors teaching neighbors about home and self
defense, and organizing, so that our voices are heard.

We never ask for money.

HdfNola.org
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 Editorial

Lack of Jobs - or Lack of Values:

What Really Causes Crime ?
Latoya Cantrells statement that Nothing stops a
bullet like a job is belied by truths we see everyday in the
streets of New Orleans.
As we travel the streets we see workers of all gen-
ders, ages and races, a good many of them undocument-
ed immigrants, who work hard as laborers, roofers, house
framers and painters. Why arent these people committing
crimes instead of working? Is it simply because someone
offered them a job? Or is it because these hard working
people have values, such as self control, the ability to fol-
low instructions consistently, and a desire to make an hon-
est living, versus stealing?
If you have ever hired someone to do any work, even
just mowing your lawn or hauling some tash bags, you al-
ready know the answer: Working people usually have a
value system - they want to do honest work.
If someone does not have a value system you can
give them a job but they will not do it properly, or worse.
Who in his right mind, for example, would give a thief the
job of coming into your home and cleaning your rugs?
No Latoya, the cause of crime is not so much a lack
of jobs as it is a lack of values. Your statement is a bunch of
feel good baloney - and it is dangerous baloney at that.

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