THE EDITOR, Sir:
MURDER FIGURE pushes towards 1,500 mark, reports The Sunday Gleaner. The time has come for more drastic action to fight crime.
The first thing I would suggest is a police tax. Put a tax on automobile registration of say $200 per year to raise funds to hire at least another 10,000 police officers. Create a police fund (with a local bank) so we can donate money to assist in purchasing the latest crime-fighting equipment for the police.
Bring in training advisors from the United States to train our local police officers. Use more advanced crime-solving techniques such as DNA testing, etc., to build strong evidence against criminals so we can depend less on eye witness testimony and implement fast trial and swift punishment for convicted offenders. There should also be a ban on songs that promote violence both on sales, airplay, clubplay and dances. You cannot encourage a disruption of society by condoning murder etc., in your musical lyrics.
I also suggest the seizure of the assets of those convicted of offences in order to offset the cost of bringing them to justice and to maintain them in jail. There should also be swift execution for convicted murderers. If you are caught with an illegal gun, punishment should be mandatory 20 years in jail. If you use it, you get life. It's time to get tough on criminals.
I am, etc.,
DAN VASSE
devasse747@yahoo.com
Pembroke Pines, Fla
