How safe is downtown Laconia?

[John Mercier]

Also, there is no real place for them to stay downtown.

[WinnisquamZ]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Also, there is no real place for them to stay downtown.

John, currently they are camping next to city hall! The city actually had a port a potty placed outside to keep them from using the bathrooms inside. You can thank the current Mayor for this. Also, with the buses now running between Concord and Laconia we may all be in for a advantageous summer


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[Major]

I guess it depends on "how close" to downtown you are talking. I go downtown a lot, and like everyone else, see homeless people everywhere. You mostly encounter them when you have to walk the sidewalks or go into pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens and Rite-Aid). I've had only a few negative encounters, but never really felt in danger.

My wife however has had several concerning encounters. One in which she was followed out of a pharmacy. Another on the WOW trail.

If you read posts from some of the Laconia-related groups on Facebook, there is an escalating crime problem in Laconia. Eventually, it will effect all of us unless something is done about it. As noted in a prior post, there are a LOT of homeless people congregating around City Hall! Definitely keep your car locked if you park in the large parking lot. They eyeball the cars.

I live in SD/LB, and even there we have homeless people passing through.

If I had to do it over again, I would have built our home in Gilford or Meredith.

[BroadHopper]

Walked downtown a lot! The Riverwalk is nice as well as the WOW trail and Belmont rail trail. The police are pretty much present.

I live in the Wildwood Village. Walk almost daily to town and back. Sometimes to Lakeport. I moved from Gilford when my taxes skyrocketed. No regrets.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Walked downtown a lot! The Riverwalk is nice as well as the WOW trail and Belmont rail trail. The police are pretty much present.

I live in the Wildwood Village. Walk almost daily to town and back. Sometimes to Lakeport. I moved from Gilford when my taxes skyrocketed. No regrets.

Where there is a lot of public, the PD tends to be present.
Belmont had a fear that it would congregate toward us because of the BRATT...
But it seem the BRATT being used all year round rather than in just a few winter weeks has created enough public oversight to keep the PD informed of issues.

[gravy boat]

Sadly there is no “safe” public place anywhere in the US any longer - except where there are no people/drugs. Good luck finding that utopia.

Laconia is safer than San Fran or LA or Chicago or NYC. Safer than Manchester.

But there are drug dealers, thieves and sexual predators here as with everywhere - just not as many as in bigger cities.

[John Mercier]

We had all that when I was a child.

[retired]

NH is a constitutional carry state. You have the right to protect yourself.

[John Mercier]

Try shooting an unarmed person bugging you for change... and you won't be homeless.

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Try shooting an unarmed person bugging you for change... and you won't be homeless.

I'm sorry, but there is something unacceptable to me about begging strangers for money in America: it should NOT be allowed.

Nor should sleeping in tents and tarps on sidewalks and other public places.

The homeless have failed: rather than expose us to their blight the government should force them to change into better, more productive citizens.

Set up a new CCC / WPA for them; induce the young ones, the druggies looking for purpose, to join the military, Peace Corps, or analogous organizations.

Time to reevaluate the situation before it sinks us all.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Mr. V

I'm sorry, but there is something unacceptable to me about begging strangers for money in America: it should NOT be allowed.

Nor should sleeping in tents and tarps on sidewalks and other public places.

The homeless have failed: rather than expose us to their blight the government should force them to change into better, more productive citizens.

Set up a new CCC / WPA for them; induce the young ones, the druggies looking for purpose, to join the military, Peace Corps, or analogous organizations.

Time to reevaluate the situation before it sinks us all.

We induced the situation.

You don't become an alcoholic if you have never consumed alcohol.
You don't mind being temporarily housed in a non-smoking facility, if you have never smoked.
You have less chance of becoming homeless if you have built an emergency fund cushion and you don't live beyond your means.

But our society doesn't value those things they way we should.

In any case, we can't shoot them for just being annoying.

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Try shooting an unarmed person bugging you for change... and you won't be homeless.

I don't think he is suggesting that he would shoot someone for asking for change...that is ridiculous. Anyone who carries has, or should have been trained that you would never even display a weapon unless a life or risk of serious injury were involved.

[John Mercier]

They haven't had any violence.
Some theft, but no violent crimes to date.
Chief Canfield laid that out.

We see more violence around drinking establishments and domestic situations rather than anything else.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I don't think he is suggesting that he would shoot someone for asking for change...that is ridiculous. Anyone who carries has, or should have been trained that you would never even display a weapon unless a life or risk of serious injury were involved.

Yes. That is a cardinal rule. Chances are, anyone that EDC (every day carries) and is a SANE person, will never have drawn his/her weapon in their lifetime. As they say. “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it”
In addition, in most cases, you would never know whom, around you, is carrying…as it should be.
Now, back to the local BUM problem.��