Tom Whitehurst

Sunday, January 14, 2001

The Kenedy prison escape defies logic in a lot of ways. For example, you'd think that a prison break would inspire a lot of gun sales and new home security systems.
   But the hot seller at the Wal-Mart in Kenedy, where the seven escapees made their famous switch of getaway cars, was portable scanners, not guns, said Linda Lopez, a manager at the store. She saw no increase in gun sales, but at one point she ran out of scanners.
   "People were more interested in the scanners than the guns, I guess so they could hear what was going on, if there was any news on the prisoners."
   More gun class signees
   Phil Smith, owner of Smith's Guns in Corpus Christi, said he has a few more signees for this month's concealed handgun certification course - 16, instead of the usual 10 or 12.
   "But to be honest, it might be because I don't teach a class in December."
   No customers have told him they were looking at guns or signing up for the course because they were concerned about the escapees.
   Even at the cost of a potential sale, he wouldn't recommend that a customer buy a gun if the purchase were solely in reaction to the escape. A handgun purchase should be made rationally and responsibly, not rashly, he said.
   'Dial 911'
   Besides, arming oneself is not his recommended protection against escaped criminals.
   "The best thing you can do is dial 911. I would never encourage anybody to confront a hardened criminal unless your life is in imminent danger. To start off with, that's why we have policemen."
   Normal people who are armed with guns are likely to hesitate rather than shoot a dangerous criminal, who in turn would not hesitate to wrest away the gun and kill its owner, Smith said.
   The escape caused an immediate flurry of activity for Safeguard Systems Inc., but not in home security devices, general manager Woody Riley said.
   Cost of doing business
   Instead, he heard from all of the banks and credit unions that are customers. All wanted their systems tested and their employees given refresher courses on security and safety, he said.
   Safeguard Systems provided that service, at no extra charge, which means that the escapees cost Riley's company some time and money, even though the escapees went the opposite direction, to the Dallas area.
   Such is the economic ripple effect of the prison system.
  
  

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