The Beale Street Lockdown
Despite their lockdown to keep out law-abiding gun owners, some law-breakers got in and shot the place up. But, don’t ya know, it’s not their fault. They just can’t lock up the whole place:
“Fortunately, we were able to keep everybody here safe,” Onzie Horn, head of the Beale Street Merchants Association, said Monday.
Horne’s message followed the Sunday morning shooting at the corner of 4th and Beale outside the Plush Club. Horne says The Plush Club and surrounding areas are outside the historic district – and the safety net provided by the Merchants Association.
“They’re totally beyond our reach and our control,” he said. “We wish we could exercise some greater influence there. Our hope is the city will address that problem.”
Club owners say there is no problem. In fact, a promotional video is posted on The Plush Club’s website addresses security.
“From the moment you walk through the doors you start feeling safe,” Vanderbbilt Harris says in the video. “My first checkpoint is my security guards that stand at the front door there.”
Club owners declined an on camera interview, but sent an e-mail to Action News Five blaming Beale Street.
In an email, club owners say the shooter was not a Plush Club customer, but had rather just left Beale street. “Don’t hold our reputation responsible because something happened near our establishment. Be fair, we don’t benefit from those large unruly crowds,” the email says.
Everybody was safe. Except those five people that were shot.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Five people were shot and they have “large unruly crowds” yet they’re able to “keep everybody here safe”? WTF is Horn smoking?
July 7th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Dunno. But I’m guessing you can buy it on Beale Street.