THE EDITOR, Madam:
MARTIN HENRY'S commentary on the right of self-defence had some real merits worthy of consideration by the government. However, I must point out two issues in Mr. Henry's article that may not have been necessarily true.
First and foremost, the reduction in crime in the large metropolitan areas of the US, including the cited example of New York City, is due in large measure to the Million Man March in Washington D.C. organised by the Nation of Islam leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, a few years ago.
At that march, it was mandated that the men from the various communities across America take up the charge to create an environment of decency, engender respect for life and property, and promotion of the sustained welfare of all family members. This has manifested itself in the form of crime reduction, alluded to by Mr. Henry, increased enrolment in elementary schools and colleges, and reduction in the dependency on government welfare.
The draconian crime fighting measures adopted by New York City's Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, undoubtedly has helped to reduce crime in the Big Apple. However, such tactics have also left in its path, the erosion of basic human rights, such as walking the streets unmolested by cops; the wanton murder of Amadou Diallo via 41 police bullets (19 finding their mark), and the millions of dollars of taxpayers' money the City has had to spend on satisfying numerous lawsuits brought against the police.
In addition, the unprecedented buoyancy of the economy has been a positive influence on the level of employment in the inner city neighbourhoods, which has also served to reduce the incidence of crime.
Secondly, it is well-documented here in the US that hundreds of family members, mostly children, have been accidentally killed by guns in homes, usually by another family member. The strong gun lobby in the US, led by famed actor Charlton Heston, has to date, successfully fended off an ever-mounting level of discontent by ordinary citizens with the so-called protected right to bear arms. This right is entrenched in the Constitution of the United States. The anti-gun lobbyists argue against the need to maintain this right when children's lives are being jeopardised daily.
Maybe Messrs. Henry and Chuck believe the environment in Jamaica is reminiscent of the wild west days of the US, but arming the Jamaican population may invite responses that will make that particular era seem peaceful.
In my opinion, the laws in Jamaica are adequate, and if routinely enforced, will go a long way in returning the island to halcyon days past. The solution lies not in the proliferation of weaponry in the hands of ordinary Jamaicans, but in forcing the system to work in favour of the populace.
I am etc.,
WINSTON L. STEWART, P.E.
E-mail:
Messengjah@msn.com
Cortlandt Manor, New York
Via Go-Jamaica
