Halloween is meant to be scary. People wear scary costumes. Paint the face like a devil just to make the festival scary and fun. But what happened this Halloween in Orlando is far more than just a festival.
Since the city witnessed much bloodshed in the past few years. The downtown area of Orlando faced a lot. Mass shooting, firing and many more to innocent people.
This year too it crossed the line when 2 gunmen fired in a dense crowd. Sadly 2 people are dead and more than 6 injured. People are hospitalized and the environment is filled with fear. People are asking authority about answers. Constant pressure on police to arrest all the culprits. Now after that situation many things came into law. Including shutting down alcohol sales after midnight. The bar owner might disagree about this, but this is the law.
As Mayor Dyer has declared a state of emergency. But due to legal limitations, this declaration is only valid for seven days. This temporary measure allows the city to respond to an urgent situation, mobilize resources, and implement emergency protocols. However, if Orlando requires a longer-term solution or permanent measures, Mayor Dyer’s authority alone is insufficient.
However, to extend or make permanent the state of emergency, the Orlando City Council must discuss and vote. Over the next week, city leaders will analyze the situation, compare options, and discuss potential long-term strategies.
This deliberation period enables the City Council to consider various perspectives, consult with experts, and engage in democratic decision-making. Ultimately, their vote will determine the course of action beyond the initial seven-day emergency declaration. To ensure accountability and representation for the city’s residents.
Let’s see the incident of Friday in Orlando
A 17-year-old named Jaylen Edgar fired a gun into a crowded area in downtown. Many people were hurt or killed. Two people died, seven were shot, and one person was injured while trying to run away.
The police caught Jaylen and arrested him. He is now facing serious charges for his actions. These charges include murder (for the two people who died) and attempted murder (for the seven people who were shot). The police and courts will investigate and decide what happens next.
The city has implemented a specific restriction on alcohol sales in the downtown entertainment area, effective after midnight. This ban applies to a particular geographic area, bounded by Colonial Drive to the north, South Street to the south, Hughey Avenue to the west, and Rosalind Avenue to the east, encompassing popular nightlife spots.
Additionally, the Kia Center is also included within this restricted zone. This targeted approach aims to avoid late-night incidents , reduce alcohol-related incidents, and promote public safety in the downtown entertainment district. But they are allowing other areas of the city to operate under normal hours.
Before making the announcement, Mayor Dyer informed bar owners who would be affected by the decision.
However, the order has some exceptions:
– People going to or from work or home
– Emergency responders (like police, firefighters, and ambulance crews)
– Medical personnel
– Members of the media
These groups are allowed to move around despite the restrictions. The order aims to reduce gatherings and promote public safety. As we know how much the downtown faced. Here are some recent horrific incidents.
There have been two serious incidents on Orange Avenue:
1. August 2022: 7 people were shot and wounded near Wall Street Plaza around 2 a.m.
2. Previous year: An Army veteran was murdered on Orange Avenue, just 100 feet from where police officers were patrolling.
These incidents highlight concerns about public safety and violence in the area, particularly at night.
The city has increased police presence downtown to improve safety. On weekend nights, thousands of people gather in the area’s bars and nightclubs. To help, bar and nightclub owners pay for up to 35 extra off-duty police officers to patrol.
For Halloween, the police force was already at 100 officers on Thursday. This number will increase over the weekend. The goal is to provide a safe environment for everyone downtown, especially during busy holiday periods like Halloween.
The City Council implemented new safety rules:
For Private Parking Lots:
1. Add security measures
2. Improve lighting
For Bars and Clubs:
1. Lower music volume
2. Enforce capacity limits (no overcrowding)
3. Use metal detectors (wand patrons) to check for weapons
However, there’s a limitation:
On Public Streets and Sidewalks:
The state’s “permit less carry” law allows people to carry weapons, even if businesses don’t allow them on private property.In short, businesses can control weapons on their own property, but the state law allows weapons on public areas.
After this incident Mayor Dyer came forward to answer the press.
He said “we want the downtown to be the vibrant and fun it was. Not fearful and scary”. He also said “Nowadays everybody has a gun and they carry it around. We can’t just restrict them without any proper reason why we should let them carry”.He expressed his concern about the death and said. “The others will be in our custody very soon”.With that he helps people calm down by his words. Assuring major public safety will be the main concern of police right now.
