European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 8, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday january 8, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 5 record 24,000 murdered drugs weapons gangs blamed for Rise from wire reports Washington a More than 24,000 americans were murdered in the United states last year More than in any other year in the nations history a study by Senate judiciary committee democrats showed. Sen. Joseph Biden d-del., chairman of the committee said monday that president Bush has done too Little a to fight this epidemic a an epidemic that May claim 100,000 lives under his the report blamed the increase on hard Core drug addiction the availability of High powered weapons and the rising number of violent youths joining gangs and participating in other criminal activities. Overall half of the states saw an increase in murders with the largest rises coming in Texas Ohio Illinois Missouri Kansas and West Virginia. Four of the most populous states showed declines new York Florida Pennsylvania and new Jersey. Biden said that with the administrations support a major anti crime Bill could be sent to the White House in the first Days of the session. Although the House approved the Bill late last year it was stopped in the Senate by a session ending filibuster because it included a waiting period for the Purchase of a handgun. The Bill did not include a ban on Semi automatic weapons. A the loll in human suffering is too great to delay any longer a Biden said in a cover letter. A the violent trends that Are killing our neighbors our children our friends and family must be reversed a or else we win face yet another grim record setting year in the 12 months the report said that the latest information from state and local officials showed that 24,020 americans were murdered in 1991. A thus it seems that our nations second consecutive murder record year ended just Days ago a Biden said. A a year which saw the rest of the world become safer for America saw this nation become less Safe for its own the three factors cited a drugs weapons and Vio Lent youths a a show no sign of declining and in fact some signs indicate that these problems Are actually accelerating.�?�. A unless we embark on a major offensive against drugs deadly weapons and violent Young criminals now the record carnage will continue to skyrocket in the Days months and years ahead a Biden said. L he report disclosed that a the 24,1 20 murders last year compared with 23,438 the year before. A the National murder rate has soared by More than 25 percent from 19s5 to 1901. A the average Citi in is twice As Likely to be killed As he was 30 years ago. A the murder toll is not confined to any single Region of the country nor is it unique to any social or economic Cross Section. A the 1991 murder toll is More than 2v times greater than the 1988 murder total of Canada France Germany great Britain and Japan combined. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago Jan. 8,1982 a trials of Union militants continued As two Solidarity leaders still at Large called on polish workers for passive resistance to the martial Law regime and secret preparations for a general strike. 20 years ago Jan. 8, 1972 a president Nixon officially announced he will seek reelection this year. The announcement came in a letter to former new Hampshire gov. Lane Dwinell who entered the presidents name in the March 7 new Hampshire primary. 30 years ago Jan. 8,1962 a a state department spokesman said a there has been no indication Quot that . Troops Are needed in South Vietnam to help combat communist guerrilla forces seeking to overthrow the government of president Ngo Dinh diem. 40 years ago Jan. 8,1952 a Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower said he would Quot under no circumstances Quot ask for Relief from his Job As supreme Allied commander in Europe to seek the presidency of the United states. He indicated however that if he were nominated for the presidency he would consider acceptance of Quot a duty that would transcend my present family had backup boat ready if copter escape from Cuba failed world War ii 50 years ago today 8 Jan. 19 4 2 a third wave of japanese troops begins Landing in Malaya to reinforce the drive on Singapore Britain s main military bastion in Asia. Allied forces in Malaya Are ordered to move South behind the Muar River where British leaders Hope to make a final defense. The japanese capture Jess Elton in British North Borneo on the soviet front the red army attacks mocha ask West of Moscow. Source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith a publishers inc. World almanac Book of world War ii Bison books corp1981 Miami apr a woman who helped orchestrate a daring helicopter transport of 34 cubans to Miami said monday she concocted the scheme when her children started considering their own escape. A it All began when our own children were thinking about taking a boat to come to Miami a said Maria Carrazana de Pompa the. Wife of it. German Pompa who piloted last Friday s Mission. Inova Lara 24, and Eduardo Lara 23, mrs. Pompay a children from a previous marriage even had a Motorboat ready As a backup Means of escape if the helicopter plan fell through mrs. Pompa said through a translator. At a news conference in Miami a cuban american National foundation office the porn Pas gave their first detailed Public account of the escape. Mrs. Pompa 44, said conditions Back Home had deteriorated so much that the family was willing to risk death to come to America. They sided their time and picked Friday As the escape Date because the military a was More relaxed for the holidays a she said. Mrs. Pompa said she was so Busy looking for land during the 200-mile flight that she did no to have time to be scared. She said she kept thinking a the land of Liberty the land of Pompa 27, said Only he and a co Pilot were on Board the russian built Mi-8 helicopter when it lifted off from Varade to International Airport in Cuba on Friday morning. The two men flew to a nearby Field where they picked up 32 other people. The fully loaded military helicopter then flew just a few Yards above the water to stay off cuban radar screens he said. The plane arrived at Tamami Airport West of Miami shortly after 9 . Maria Carrazana de Pompa kisses her husband German at a news conference in Miami where they told of their daring escape from Cuba lie piloted the helicopter. Had the cuban government spotted the helicopter a they would have either shot us Down or asked us to return Quot Pompa said. The one time military helicopter was being used to transport tourists across the Island Pompa said and had been stripped of All weapons. The cubans packed no food Little water and Only two or three changes of clothes each on the helicopter. Mrs. Pompa said that while she was sad to leave behind her parents and brother she was thrilled to be in the United states. A i feel like in be been born again a she said the pampas their two children and 10 other defectors Are living temporarily with mrs. Pompay a sister in opa Locka. One of the 34 defectors remained at Krome detention Center on monday night because relatives could t be contacted but he was to he released i tuesday or wednesday said Feliciano Foyo of the cuban american foundation a lobbying group la he other refugees Are living with relatives near Miami. Texas governor stops Man s execution. I. I i. A ill Oil Fotr Huntsville Texas a gov. Ann Richards late monday granted a 30-Day reprieve to a Man scheduled for execution tuesday for the rape and slaying of a nun. The governor said she was acting on an Appeal from Pope John Paul ii. It was the first time since Texas resumed carrying out the death penalty in 1982 that a governor has intervened to Stop an execution. There have been five executions in Texas since Richards took office a year ago. Johnny Frank Garrett 28, was scheduled for execution tuesday morning. He was convicted of raping and killing 7 it year old sister Talca Benz in an Amarillo Convent in 1981. Garrett was 17 years old when he was arrested. Garrett a attorneys contend that he is insane and should not be executed. Richards said she was granting the reprieve As a result of pleas she received from the Pope on Friday and earlier from the Bishop of the roman c Catholic diocese of Amarillo. The governor also said she was granting the reprieve so Garrett s attorneys could pursue appeals. Last year the Pope asked Lor clemency Lor a death Row inmate in Missouri. At that time a Vatican spokesman said the Pope had acted similarly in other death penalty cases in the United states but he did no to know How Many times. A Federal judge issued a stay sunday but the state appealed to the Federal appeals court in new Orleans which lifted the stay late monday night. Before the governor acted Garrells attorneys said they intended to ask the . Supreme court to Block the execution
