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Who are corner crews?
Friday, February 14, 2014
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Dear Sir,
I usually support most of the initiatives and campaigns of Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ). I believe the protection of human rights is a necessary spoke in the wheel of democracy.
However, I must say that I am surprised and bewildered by JFJ's continued defence of so-called corner crews who, if we are to believe JFJ, are benign knights armed with guns to protect their troubled communities. Further, they are not otherwise involved in nefarious activity as a group. I find JFJ's position naïve, objectionable and laughable at the same time.
Firstly, young men armed with guns commit crimes against ordinary citizens.I do not for one minute believe their guns are silent when not being used to allegedly protect their troubled communities. These armed young men are not angels who use guns only defend their communities. The point of having a gun is to commit crime, not to "protect one's community". I do not believe anyone who has faced the business end of a gun would subscribe to a view that we should allow certain young men who have illegal weapons to associate, trusting that they will only use them to "protect their communities" and not be engaged in criminal activity.
Secondly, I am not prepared to live in a society where we tolerate any group of illegally armed young men usurping the function of the police. If they act in a group to so-called protect their communities, it begs the obvious questions: What do they do with their guns when not on patrol? On whose behalf are they really acting? Who authorised them to carry out the functions of law and order?
Thirdly, if young men in the community wish to respond to a threat to their community from "outside forces", the appropriate response from JFJ in the civilised society is to try to promote them to go to the police and name names. That we should instead seek to condone their "resort" to illegal arms and exempt them from the law of the land is pure craziness. I honestly believe JFJ's position — on the grounds of freedom of association — is totally misguided. There is no right to bear arms under the Jamaican constitution, nor is there a right to associate as an armed group.
Annette Johnson
annejalaw@flowja.com
Friday, February 14, 2014
Print this page Email A Friend!
Dear Sir,
I usually support most of the initiatives and campaigns of Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ). I believe the protection of human rights is a necessary spoke in the wheel of democracy.
However, I must say that I am surprised and bewildered by JFJ's continued defence of so-called corner crews who, if we are to believe JFJ, are benign knights armed with guns to protect their troubled communities. Further, they are not otherwise involved in nefarious activity as a group. I find JFJ's position naïve, objectionable and laughable at the same time.
Firstly, young men armed with guns commit crimes against ordinary citizens.I do not for one minute believe their guns are silent when not being used to allegedly protect their troubled communities. These armed young men are not angels who use guns only defend their communities. The point of having a gun is to commit crime, not to "protect one's community". I do not believe anyone who has faced the business end of a gun would subscribe to a view that we should allow certain young men who have illegal weapons to associate, trusting that they will only use them to "protect their communities" and not be engaged in criminal activity.
Secondly, I am not prepared to live in a society where we tolerate any group of illegally armed young men usurping the function of the police. If they act in a group to so-called protect their communities, it begs the obvious questions: What do they do with their guns when not on patrol? On whose behalf are they really acting? Who authorised them to carry out the functions of law and order?
Thirdly, if young men in the community wish to respond to a threat to their community from "outside forces", the appropriate response from JFJ in the civilised society is to try to promote them to go to the police and name names. That we should instead seek to condone their "resort" to illegal arms and exempt them from the law of the land is pure craziness. I honestly believe JFJ's position — on the grounds of freedom of association — is totally misguided. There is no right to bear arms under the Jamaican constitution, nor is there a right to associate as an armed group.
Annette Johnson
annejalaw@flowja.com
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