Let's Be Clear

weapons represents a great revelation by one of the corporation’s brilliant editors. As the editorialist noted, "getting rid of illegal guns" may not be "enough to [completely] end the kind of senseless violence that has killed six youths this year." However, it is without a doubt the greatest, single, most important step that could possibly be taken toward accomplishing the task.

The D&C corporation’s editor/writer made a very weak, puny statement about city police deserving "more help from federal authorities in stopping the flow of illegal guns." If availability of illegal guns was responsible for scores of white, suburban, youth and adult murders and shootings --- a state of emergency would have been declared by now, and the AFT, FBI, CIA, and forces that we probably haven’t even heard of would have long been on the scene. And, the D&C would likely be out front --- helping to lead the charge --- as opposed to just continually publishing weak-ass, impudent, rhetorical statements.

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of nearly this whole damn society pretending, downplaying, and ignoring the fact that more value is placed on some lives than others. Because of this --- not only in Rochester, but predominantly Black and Hispanic Communities across the United States find themselves entangled in ongoing, inadequately addressed, fratricide, which continues to represent a good portion of the fuel that feeds the ever-growing prison-industrial complex, which in turn provides many jobs --- mainly for members of overwhelmingly, white, suburban and rural communities.

Also, via his or her latent brilliance, the D&C editorialist suggests that the sole source relative to the "flow of illegal guns [is] Southern [U.S.} states." Bull, and we all know it! When will we begin to talk about the ships and planes that represent the major sources of transportation regarding "the flow of illegal guns" [and drugs]? Why haven’t, and when will the U.S. local, regional, and national governments confront the well known gangsters and mobsters who are responsible for perpetuating the old, old international drug and weapons trade, which contributes greatly in helping to prop up the ailing U.S. economy?

I have been asking literally for decades (at City Council meetings, and in other public forums): If our children know where to find illegal guns and drugs (and obviously they do) --- then how is it that, with all of their sophisticated technology, including (as I once heard Dick Gregory say) satellites that can spot a flea on a gnat’s ass (from space) --- law enforcement officials can’t seem to find illegal drugs and weapons in predominantly Black and Hispanic ghetto Communities throughout the U.S.?

Is it possible that there is a conspiracy of silence and inaction relative to allowing fratricide to flourish? Well, is it?

Democrat & Chronicle

Illegal guns

Getting more of them off Rochester streets will save lives

(October 10, 2005) — Last week, the Rochester Police Department seized more than 50 illegal semi-automatic pistols, rifles and shotguns from a man who is suspected of dealing illegal firearms.

That's more than 50 guns that won't be on the streets, ready to be used in moments of anger by the kinds of depraved criminals who have made parts of Rochester seem like war zones.

Getting rid of all illegal guns isn't enough to end the kind of senseless street violence that has killed six youths this year. Fourteen-year-old Devon Stott died from a knife wound recently.

But keeping more illegal guns out of an environment poisoned by poverty, hopelessness, poor education, family instability and a culture with no respect for life will, no doubt, save lives.

Too often, as was seen in the recent fatal shooting of 16-year-old Miquesha Hazzard, these guns are the element that turns simple confrontations fatal.

City police deserve more help from federal authorities in stopping the flow of illegal guns from Southern states. District Attorney Mike Green is right to get tougher on people who are caught with illegal guns.

Much more needs to be done to encourage concerned citizens to stand up and report the presence of illegal guns in their homes and neighborhoods.

With children being shot to death in the streets, silence can't be an option.