Okay, why is this club still open???

[USRufnex]

Nightclub's fatal shooting is city's 64th homicide
By Staff Reports
12/30/2007  6:43 PM

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071230_1__Ayear06520

A 21-year-old man was fatally shot early Sunday in a downtown nightclub in Tulsa's 64th homicide of the year, authorities said.

Eric Bell, of Tulsa, was shot inside UV, a downtown nightclub where police were called about 2 a.m., Tulsa police Cpl. Gene Watkins said. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, Watkins said.

It wasn't immediately clear how many times Bell had been shot.

Police also couldn't confirm how many people were inside the club at the time of the shooting, as many people left the scene, Watkins said.

Police are searching for suspects, witnesses and a motive, Watkins said.

------------------------------------------------

This is the very same club that was operating as "The Ministry" when another shooting happened there last February...

http://kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=120146

What loophole in the law allows these idiots to keep their business?...

And, what's gonna be the new name of the club after this tragedy becomes yesterday's news...  [B)]

[tulsa1603]

I'm with you, but I really don't know what law would force them to close?  Is there a law that says "If you have x number of shootings you have to close"?  I'm amazed that people still go there.  Maybe I'm old for 31, but "these kids today" really bug me.

[Conan71]

Was UV another Kitchell innovation?  What on earth does it take to run this guy out of town?

[USRufnex]

Yep.

Boy, I'm sure glad Mayor Taylor made a priority out of putting TPD on bicycles downtown... nice window dressing there, mayor...

Can't somebody pass a credible law/ordinance that sets standards for these under-21 places... especially this one... how hard could it be to require appropriate security guards, off-duty police?, etc, etc... ?!?

[USRufnex]

http://kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=142299

Fatal Shooting Brings Bad Memories For Teen
KOTV - 12/30/2007 5:50 PM - Updated 12/30/2007 11:10 PM
A man is dead after a shooting at a Downtown Tulsa nightclub. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Eric Bell. The News On 6's Dan Bewley reports police are now calling Club UV a trouble-plagued hotspot.

"This club has caused problems every weekend since it's been open almost," said Tulsa Police Corporal Clay Ballenger.

The news is shocking to a Tulsa teen who was also shot in the same building less than a year ago.

In February the club was called the Ministry, but owned by the same man, when a bullet went through the neck of a 15-year-old, then through the face of Jeremy Lin. Ten months later, it's still there.

"Every day, I just, this is what I think about every day. From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, this is what's on my mind the whole time," said Jeremy Lin.

Jeremy Lin's mother feels her son's pain.

"It's a struggle, it's a struggle with all of us," said Kelly Lin.

Now comes news of another shooting at the same club.

"I was stunned. I was full of tears, chills. It's like I can't believe this happened again," said Kelly Lin.

Tulsa police say the problems usually start after 2:00 a.m. when the club stops serving beer, but because of an exemption in a city ordinance it stays open another two hours. Police say the exemption allows the club to remain open until 4:00 a.m. if it has a charitable organization acting as a sponsor. It also says the curfew doesn't apply, so kids of all ages are allowed to hang out inside.

"Basically what you've got is a beer club with kids in it and it's open till 4:00 a.m." said Corporal Ballenger.

The Lins say Sunday mornings shooting is proof the club's owner needs to be held accountable.

"Shut them down, shut them down. He doesn't deserve to have a place like that," said Jeremy Lin.

The man who pleaded guilty to shooting Jeremy Lin and the 15-year-old in February is scheduled to be sentenced to ten years in prison on Thursday.

[Wilbur]

May be a better question is:

Why do parents let their kids go there?

[cannon_fodder]

Wilbur, clearly it is parents who either don't give a damn or don't pay attention.  Or, in rare instances - clever kids who sneak out of lie.

But mostly it is 18-21 year olds who's parents no longer have a say (assuming they ignore the "my house" rules or do not live at home).  And, I imagine, they go their BECAUSE there has been shootings.  It makes it cooler in some circles because it's a "tough club."

The police should not close down a business because of the actions of its patrons, that could be a dangerous precedent.  They should, however, put more strict guidelines on its operation.  Say, require a licensed security guard (perhaps for all mixed-use clubs, bar + underage).

Then again, in this instance of horrible repeat violations my voice would not rise at the injustice of shutting that place down in its current incarnation.  Though, I suspect the problem would just migrate to another location as the problem would not be solved.

[restored2x]

Who is the charitable organization that is sponsoring the 2AM to 4AM activities?

Did I read/understand that exemption thing right?

[Gaspar]

I have a policy:

Nothing good ever happens between the hours of 12p.m. and 2a.m. Unless I am in my bed.

[AVERAGE JOE]

What I hate is the ridiculous spin by the media. Notice how it's a "downtown nightclub". Like the fact it's located downtown has anything to do with it. If Kitchell opened a thug bar at 71st & Memorial (don't laugh, he had one at 81st & Memorial years ago), do you think the media would mention the part of town in the headline?

The media contribute to the perception that downtown is a dangerous place, when that's not the case. This particular club is a dangerous place, and it happens to be on the edge of dowtown, but hundreds of people patronize the other downtown nightclubs every weekend without incident. Or least, no greater amount of incident than every other entertainment district in town.

[USRufnex]

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

May be a better question is:

Why do parents let their kids go there?

Most parents are unable to keep their teenagers chained up at home... [:O]

And there ARE bad parents out there... so how do you solve THAT problem, chief?  Lock 'em up and throw away the key???  How exactly does that help these kids?

What good does it do to have a law that forces bars to clear out their adults at 2am while that craptastic club gets to stay open 'till 4am?... and don't get me started on the flippant attitude from the police...

yeah, so it happens most weeks???

"Basically what you've got is a beer club with kids in it and it's open till 4:00 a.m." said Corporal Ballenger.

hey, just let 'em shoot each other... we don't care... geez.

Why is it that the same folks who push so hard for personal responsibility have little to no concept of social responsibility?