THE EDITOR, Sir:GUN AMNESTIES and initiatives thereof are silly and short-sighted. No matter how many guns are captured through such measures if the root causes are not adequately addressed the situation will remain unchanged.
The intent to kill or maim cannot be dealt with by a gun amnesty. A gun is only one of several instruments/weapons which can be used to kill or maim. What needs to be addressed is what would lead an individual to kill his fellow man in cold blood.
I believe that the answer to this fundamental question lies in what value is put on human life and why this value is seemingly so irrelevant and neglected. Is it because of poverty? Is it because of greed? Is it because of envy? Is it because the gun is glorified in popular culture?
I think all these shortcomings stem from one single factor - a lack of a proper moral and ethical foundation inculcated in individuals from adolescence through to early adulthood.
I fervently believe that if a proper moral and ethical foundation is laid in the psyche of an individual, it is unlikely that such an individual would ever resort to crime no matter his social or economic circumstances. Teach proper morals and ethics in our schools, churches and innercities on an ongoing basis and crime will take a nose-dive.
I am, etc.,
PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
pagalley@hotmail.com
KingstonVia Go-Jamaica
