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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Addressing Crime Realistically

Dear Source:
I just read Mr. devnes article on standing against crime. he takes the usual course of first wanting to remove guns from law abiding citizens, making it even easier for criminals to find victims he then talks about anti crime organizations with out stating the obvious we live in a place where there are two cultures, the have's who can afford many things and the hungry who have to do what they have to do. our kids watch the same MTV and when they cant afford new clothes or car parts they are tempted to do what they feel they have to just to be normal, with few jobs and few opportunities a desperation has taken our kids, our schools teach them to be tough with each other, our economic polices teach them to be tough with anyone they perceive as being rich. I believe we ought to stand up against crime also but we should be realistic about it, forming a crime watch in your neibohood only addresses those that have keeping what is theirs, it dose nothing about the problem of opportunity and poverty. These are the driving force of crime in the VI, like it or not our money and efforts are in treating the wounds instead of preventing the injury. As long as fear of revenge out weighs fear of breaking a law people will not report crime unless they are the victim.
look at those who seek to defend the bad element at the fish market in f'sted our governor, police chief, and officers were asked to apologize for doing there job by a candidate for senate, everyone on st croix knows where the crime is and this was one of those places yet here is someone who wants a job where he is required to uphold the laws of the VI who while claiming to be a protector of crusian culture is sending a message of support to those who use the market for unlawful activities the compromise of closing the market was preferable to stationing an officer at the market to arrest anyone doing unlawful activities, id say that was a realistic approach, given that revenge was threatened for the closure and was a certainty if arrests were made. So Mr. devine a compromise is realistic and can function as opposed to your idea of locking up everyone, I wonder if you on St. john would like to have the jails built on St. john to house all those who would be caught up in your hard line laws.
Personally I would like to see jobs offered to the many who are living at or near poverty, id like to see real opportunity offered to our youth so my compromise is lets go after why crime is committed as strongly as the crimes them selves, for every dollar you want to spend on enforcing the law lets spend an equal amount on opportunities and invest in our people.
Paul Vrabcak
Frederiksted, St. Croix

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

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