Tragedy at Mona Boat Ramp.

[Krogers79]

This could have been any one of us. Its extremely sad when I have to explain to my 7 year old son that a fisherman was shot in front of our subdivision where he and I have fished numerous times. I feel for the daughter that was with him...knowing that her dad was gunned down by a damn coward that was too damn lazy to work for his keep.

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by XxthejuicexX

A lot of the times when I am on the lake I have it holstered outside the shirt, just more comfortable when carrying a full size M&P. When I'm feeling froggy I slide the 32 round mag in, no hiding it then . In public I like it concealed, walking to my truck at a boat ramp I think having it exposed could deter some people from making bad decisions.

I agree! ive pulled up to long hunter late at night and there have been shady folks milling around. Head lamp on scanning around and hand on the equalizer till im in the truck and it stays exposed at the ready till im on my way safe and sound.
Its a tough call depending on the bad peoples mind set:
A) hes got a gun, im not gonna go after him.
B) hes got a gun but i bet im faster, better shot, ect....

[snowman]

I fish Lamar a lot....always try to get out of there before dark. It's out of the way and creepy. Also fish Elm Hill never had any problems there.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Krogers79

This could have been any one of us. Its extremely sad when I have to explain to my 7 year old son that a fisherman was shot in front of our subdivision where he and I have fished numerous times. I feel for the daughter that was with him...knowing that her dad was gunned down by a damn coward that was too damn lazy to work for his keep.

First I've heard about his daughter being present, nice to know there was a witness now so they can catch those scumbags.

[agelesssone]

Vivrette Creek ramp has some pretty sketchy characters there late at night and before daylight.
I switched to 7 Points. It has good lighting, big parking g lot and only a FEW sketchy characters.
But I still practice total situational awareness and take nothing for granted.
If there are non fishermen around, hand is on the heater. (Pistol for the unknowing)

[Ghost5]

One reason I use Hurricane Creek. Cops roll through there all night long and I can see all the parking lot from the water. I stopped using the lower end ramps a long time ago.

[Headhunter]

Very few ramps on Priest are safe. A group of people was busted at seven points, they had someone hide at the entrance, the purpose was they could call and warn their buddies who were robbing whatever they could from vehicles in the parking lot. Hamilton Creek is bad, maybe on a weekend day in the summer, no other time. Lamar Hill is fairly safe in the summer.

Absolutely no way (nor have I ever) would I leave my vehicle at Poole knobs, Mona, Fall Creek, Cooks, Jefferson Springs, West Fork, Hamilton Creek, the ramp that is now for use at Elm Hill, Bryant Grove, Long Hunter, Seven Points, Smith Springs, and maybe one or 2 others on a weekday or during the fall and winter. All you are doing is asking for someone to break into your vehicle, sorry that is the way it is. Fate Sanders, Four corners, hurricane creek and yacht club is it for me. Of course, always carry.

[tkwalker]

I worked with Greg Hawkins for 21 years before I retired from Nissan. He was a heck of a nice guy, Very considerate, soft spoken and never had anything bad to say about anyone .... He will be missed... <'TK><

[tsuggs]

Unfortunately this will only worsen as our county's population continues to explode.Better to have the peashooter as to not.I pray the family will find justice

[TNPaddleBass]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

I worked with Greg Hawkins for 21 years before I retired from Nissan. He was a heck of a nice guy, Very considerate, soft spoken and never had anything bad to say about anyone .... He will be missed... <'TK><

Then you have to know my dad...Roy G.

Gregg was my dad's best friend. My sister and I grew up with his daughters. That man taught me more about bass fishing than I ever realized. Daddy sent me out with him one day and I wasn't allowed to fish with anything but a jig. Apparently it was a teaching of patience or something. I'm not sure. But man, that day is one I'll never EVER forget. That's been 15 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday. First jig fish ever came in his boat up in Viverett Creek. First bass boat I ever drove was his old (new then) Hydra Sport...first time I used a left-handed baitcaster...I'm proud to have known him.

[commdd]

So sorry for your loss!

[jad2t]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one of the more obvious problems here. Sure, I'm a supporter of the 2nd and believe everyone should own firearms to protect themselves and their family but don't we pay people through our taxes to assist in that task? You know, the police. The police that we see set up in speed traps on every highway in the state. Posted up there all day, all night, handing out tickets like Halloween candy. Would you all agree they would be doing us a much greater service if they were posted up at these boat ramps to deter criminals from making them their personal robbing/drug dealing grounds?

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by jad2t

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one of the more obvious problems here. Sure, I'm a supporter of the 2nd and believe everyone should own firearms to protect themselves and their family but don't we pay people through our taxes to assist in that task? You know, the police. The police that we see set up in speed traps on every highway in the state. Posted up there all day, all night, handing out tickets like Halloween candy. Would you all agree they would be doing us a much greater service if they were posted up at these boat ramps to deter criminals from making them their personal robbing/drug dealing grounds?

I totally agree and understand that!
And not to be a negative guy on that note, but im sure the police would come back and say we cant patrol everywhere all the time, and let the corps patrole it, or the corp would say well we arent law enforcement....i could see it being alot of back and forth while nothing gets done.
More lights at the ramps would be good at night but people would shoot em out or break em or something.
I would LOVE to see all ramps go to a pay system. Yearly fee of X amount to have somebody in a little booth checking for the yearly pass or a daily pass. Ofcourse that would leave night fisherman S.O.L. but it would be a start. Ive proposed just that to the people at Long Hunter dozens of times for just that reason....security, lights, ramp upkeep, parking lot repaving, ect. And they have agreed with me, but no movement is ever taken. I would gladly spend $50 a year for a pass for ramp access on these lakes IF the proper entities are managing them and managing them properly.
I would love to fish the cumberland Access points more but its lack of ramps in decent areas is a big deterant for me. So far long hunter has been OK for me so i will keep using that ramp and use more boat gas to get me where i want to go on the water. But others here have had problems at that ramp as well, so its a crap shoot of sorts.

[metaniumxg]

Originally Posted by jad2t

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one of the more obvious problems here. Sure, I'm a supporter of the 2nd and believe everyone should own firearms to protect themselves and their family but don't we pay people through our taxes to assist in that task? You know, the police. The police that we see set up in speed traps on every highway in the state. Posted up there all day, all night, handing out tickets like Halloween candy. Would you all agree they would be doing us a much greater service if they were posted up at these boat ramps to deter criminals from making them their personal robbing/drug dealing grounds?

Sadly in my eyes the police are more interested in generating revenue instead of focusing on real crimes and prevention. The real money is not catching real criminals but to write thousands of tckets a week with multiple violations to the average law abiding tax paying citizen. I remember a couple of years ago reading that Metro keeps breaking their record in fines year after year. They have a huge new police station in Madison and brand new cruisers with all the latest gear and we are all paying for that. Pressure needs to be put on the mayor and chief of police through the media.

[jad2t]

Originally Posted by metaniumxg

Sadly in my eyes the police are more interested in generating revenue instead of focusing on real crimes and prevention. The real money is not catching real criminals but to write thousands of tckets a week with multiple violations to the average law abiding tax paying citizen. I remember a couple of years ago reading that Metro keeps breaking their record in fines year after year. They have a huge new police station in Madison and brand new cruisers with all the latest gear and we are all paying for that. Pressure needs to be put on the mayor and chief of police through the media.

That's exactly my point. It would be nice if they'd spend less time hitting people via speed traps and more time watching out for actual crimes The type of thing that happened at Mona can possibly be avoided.