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Knappster: Trouble in the 'hood

By George Knapp

By the time you read this, Knappster may already have taken an action that would have seemed unthinkable in years gone by. I will likely have purchased a gun, maybe two.

I'm not necessarily anti-gun (although I do believe there are too many of them out there.) In the past I have derived considerable pleasure in popping out gigantic rounds from a .50-caliber machine gun and a 50-cal sniper rifle. I had a little .22 rifle as a kid, and I went through a "hunting" phase as a teen. Mostly, I've avoided gun ownership as an adult because of the unfortunate things that often happen when a gun is in the house. Frankly, I was worried that one of my girlfriends might shoot me.

I'm no longer concerned that a femme fatale might do me in, but I am worried about crime. In just the past year, my modest home has been victimized six times, and I'm beginning to think someone has a major problem with me. It started last year when a couple of guys slipped into my house while I was sleeping. When I heard a noise and went to check it out, they took off out the front door, taking my wallet and a pile of DVDs with them. Next came the keying of my car, followed by the keying of the Viking's car. She didn't take it well. She took it less well when they did it again to the new vehicle she bought.

Someone upped the stakes, though. A few weeks ago they tried to steal my car by using a Slim Jim on my door, but only managed to bust the handle and lock. They came back three weeks later, though, and cut a big hole in the convertible top. Instead of stealing the car, they grabbed my garden hose, turned up the water full blast and appeared to be preparing to turn my ride into an aquarium when they were interrupted. They took off and left the water running.

This strikes me as being more than random vandalism or an unsuccessful heist. This seems more personal, as if someone would have reason to be angry at me. I started making a mental list of who might wish me ill, but quit after the list became so long as to be meaningless. Clearly someone is pissed off about something, because while my car was in the shop being repaired, they came back and did a number on the Viking's newly painted vehicle.

No, I don't live in Naked City, although that's not far off. I live in an older neighborhood east of the Strip, not far from Gorman High School. I've always thought of it as a cool part of town, with older homes that weren't all cranked out with cookie-cutter designs, mature vegetation and a sense of history. Other neighborhoods bordering my own have been declared "historic." I keep hearing about how these neighborhoods are undergoing a renaissance, about how young urban professionals, trendy gay couples and civic-minded types are moving in to spruce the place up. Any day now, I've been told, such changes will spill over into my neck of the woods.

What seems to have spilled over, instead, is a lot of crime. The overall makeup of my little 'hood has changed drastically in just the past three years. About 50 percent of my neighbors are Hispanic now. For many of them, this is their first shot at home ownership. They care as much about the safety of their homes as I do about mine, and based on my own little survey, some of them have been hit, too. But none of them has been repeatedly victimized as I have. My theory is that some of these acts were simply random acts of vandalism, but that the recent spate is the work of one individual or group who either wants revenge for something or wants me out of the area. (Could some sort of outlaw land grab be under way? I'm interested in the theories of any readers who live in the area.)

The first few car "keying" incidents weren't reported to the police. What would be the point? But I filed a report when they cut up my rag top and plan to file again if something happens in the future, no matter how trivial the incident. And I plan to be ready for them the next time. I'm now shopping for a home security/camera setup that will allow me to at least catch the perps on video. It's going to cost a pile of dough, but I don't have much choice. And I will be prepared if they enter the house again. My friend Kent, whose office is filled with trophies for shooting expertise and who has trained plenty of law enforcement folks over the years, has offered his services as tutor. Soon enough, the Viking and I will be out in the desert, blasting the likenesses of bad guys and preparing for the day when the real thing returns to our home.

I can't believe it has come to this, or that I would ever contemplate shooting someone. But I'm in a Howard Beale state of mind these days, or is it a Vin Suprynowicz state of mind? I'm tired of this crap and don't plan on taking any more.

Paiute update

Ousted members of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe scored a total, sweeping court victory over the tribal leaders who kicked them out a few years ago. Mercury readers may recall a cover story about this tragic tussle. Sixteen lifelong Paiutes were told they were no longer part of the tribe and were no longer eligible to receive the $100,000 a year that is disbersed to members.

The 16-page decision by an Indian appeals court was blistering in its appraisal of how the tribe treated its own members, and how the tribal court acted as a lackey in backing up greed of the Pauite Council. The decision not only means the tribe is liable for back pay to the ousted members, but that the tribal leaders who engineered this robbery can be held personally responsible for the despicable actions they took out of sheer greed.

Attorney Mike Stuhff, who engineered the court win, says the only way the tribe can appeal the decision is if they take the matter to Congress or to the International Court at the Hague. He's guessing they will choose instead to settle.

Miscellaneous

Remember the old TV show "The Fugitive," in which the protagonist always claimed that "a one-armed man did it"? Well, if someone is looking for a theme to the agonizing 2003 Legislature this may be it. The one-armed man in this situation is Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, who has done a masterful job of keeping his troops in line, thus forcing overtime and setting the stage for a later GOP takeover of the Assembly. ... While in Carson City, Knappster found a little treasure on the shelves of a pawn shop. It's a money clip with the name of its former owner inscribed. Anyone remember Jack Pettiti, the longtime county commissioner and youth sports enthusiast whose career ended when he was nabbed in the FBI's Yobo sting operation? I now own his money clip. Also inscribed on the clip is the name "Miracle Recreation Equipment Company." Does anyone know if the Pettiti we knew was associated with this company, or did I buy the money clip of some other Jack Pettiti? Let me know. ... My friends from the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings have been pretty kind about Knappster's stupid mistake two weeks ago in which I identified the bar as being in Mountain Springs. Anyway, the saloon is celebrating its 90th birthday on June 21-22. I'm now told that the musical group Exit 22 will perform Saturday night and that Scott Rhiner and the Moanin' Blacksnakes will perform Sunday, with food supplied by Friendly Dave's barbecue. Longtime locals will remember Friendly Dave from his years in the bail bond business and from his work on political campaigns. ... The NBC gross-out program "Fear Factor" will be making a return to Las Vegas. The show scored its highest ratings ever during its last visit. Participants slid down the side of the Luxor, and the winner of the $50,000 first prize lost half his haul in two excruciating hands of blackjack at Mandalay Bay. "Fear Factor" is set to return to Mandalay Bay right after the Fourth of July, which is a wonderful time of year to be outside shooting a TV show. ... The defense team representing Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish have put together what they say is a blockbuster package of new information about the Ted Binion murder. This comes as we approach the one-year anniversary of the oral arguments that were heard by the Nevada Supreme Court. The court still hasn't issued a ruling in the case. Knappster heard the other day from Lani Tabish, Rick's mother, who wonders what could possibly be taking so long.