Shooting number 3...

[kim&betty]

I spoke with a friend who is a bartender on the west end this morning. He said employees who get off work after dark are fearful waiting for a route taxi to get home. He said that if they see a motorcycle light approaching they hide in the bushes until it passes. My/Our favorite place on earth is on a very slippery slope. If the Jamaican Government/Police can't protect the people, they should allow the people to protect themselves. When only criminals have guns this is what you get. If the citizens of negril were armed, and had a stand your ground law this foolishness would end very quickly. The hard working people of Negril are very aware of the impact these events may have on tourism and their families livity.

[Kevin, PA]

I spoke with a friend who is a bartender on the west end this morning. He said employees who get off work after dark are fearful waiting for a route taxi to get home. He said that if they see a motorcycle light approaching they hide in the bushes until it passes. My/Our favorite place on earth is on a very slippery slope. If the Jamaican Government/Police can't protect the people, they should allow the people to protect themselves. When only criminals have guns this is what you get. If the citizens of negril were armed, and had a stand your ground law this foolishness would end very quickly. The hard working people of Negril are very aware of the impact these events may have on tourism and their families livity.

Oh please! So there is much less gun violence in the US because of our gun laws...is that seriously what you are trying to say? Don't bring this debate to the board. I think I'd rather discuss route taxis.

[Packrat]

I think I'd rather discuss route taxis.

Now that brought a little levity, you are right, lets not go there

[Accompong]

I spoke with a friend who is a bartender on the west end this morning. He said employees who get off work after dark are fearful waiting for a route taxi to get home. He said that if they see a motorcycle light approaching they hide in the bushes until it passes. My/Our favorite place on earth is on a very slippery slope. If the Jamaican Government/Police can't protect the people, they should allow the people to protect themselves. When only criminals have guns this is what you get. If the citizens of negril were armed, and had a stand your ground law this foolishness would end very quickly. The hard working people of Negril are very aware of the impact these events may have on tourism and their families livity.

These are definite tragedies and I can see why a Jamaican would be fearful to stand waiting on dark roads for a route taxi and hear a motor bike approaching but, come on now!

Putting guns in the hands of Negril's citizens is truly a stupid idea. You have obviously never lived in Kingston. I have. People are shooting people all the time and hardly no one is carrying a gun legally. Allowing people to "protect themselves" will only make more people die. This is not your country so you would probably be advised not suggest a "George Zimmerman" brand of justice on a Travon Martin society.

You think arming people will make tourists feel safer? What about an English tourist? They are not so stupid in England to allow guns and surely don't want to go somewhere that does.

You want to make your "slippery slope" a waterfall?

with 40.9 murders per year per 100,000 people, are among the nations with the highest murder rates in the world

The Government/Police have a difficult time now but these people will be punished eventually. This is an island and there is really no where to run. Things take time in Jamaica.

[kim&betty]

Hey Kevin, I respect your opinion. But oh please, would you like to work 10-12 hrs a day for very little $$, and then cower in the shrubbery at the sight of an approaching bike? Perhaps you would. That is my friends reality, and neither he nor I think it's acceptable. The Police are all protecting/patrolling the big parties along the beach road. Firearm possession by law abiding citizens is certainly a deterrent to crime. I agree though it is a crappy solution to a very real problem.

[kim&betty]

Accompong, the following quote is from the same web page you sited above.

According to the latest available data, the murder rate in the United States was 4.7 per 100,000 population.

You also made the point

People are shooting people all the time and hardly no one is carrying a gun legally.

That is what I mean, LEGALLY carrying a gun would deter these mad youths who think they are shottas/rude boy's/bad men what have you, from continuing with impunity. They all have cell phones and know exactly where the police are when they choose their victims.
You have been going to Jamaica for almost 20 yrs longer than I have, I do respect your opinion. I also love Jamaica, and my friends are family to me, as yours are to you. Blessings to you and yours.

[captaind]

Accompong, the following quote is from the same web page you sited above.
They all have cell phones and know exactly where the police are when they choose their victims.

Oddly enough several times in the past when the police/army were making a full sweep of the area the cell phones stopped working

[Accompong]

Accompong, the following quote is from the same web page you sited above.

You also made the point
That is what I mean, LEGALLY carrying a gun would deter these mad youths who think they are shottas/rude boy's/bad men what have you, from continuing with impunity. They all have cell phones and know exactly where the police are when they choose their victims.
You have been going to Jamaica for almost 20 yrs longer than I have, I do respect your opinion. I also love Jamaica, and my friends are family to me, as yours are to you. Blessings to you and yours.

Thank you kim&betty for the Blessings and same back at you. Bless.

Comparing the United States with Jamaica is not a fair comparison due to the greater population and greater land area. A more fair comparison would be comparing Jamaica to Connecticut. They are roughly the same shape and size. Jamaica has (these are all rough figures) roughly 3.5 million people and Conn. has roughly 2.7 million. Using this as a basis for comparison, Conn. has around 150 murders a year and they don't have open carry laws. Yes, you can get a permit to carry and you can get one in Jamaica as well.

Yes your "shottas/rude boy's/bad men" have guns and most regular Jamaicans don't but more guns in circulation will cause an increase in murders. Yes, some will be those bad men but many more will be innocent Jamaicans. I was in Jamaica during the turbulent '80s when the CIA was bringing in guns inside refrigerators to arm the opposition to the Manley government. That is what happens when you turn guns loose on a passionate society.

The problems in Jamaica are more systemic and culturally based. Jamaican's revere the "bad man". Witness the nicknames of "Killa" etc. that abound or the movies like "Harder they Come" etc. When I first went to Jamaica, the TVs showed John Wayne movies and war movies and the nicknames followed like "John Wayne" or "Josie Wales" etc.

It is only in the past couple of elections that political murders didn't flare up around the island. Adding guns would only add more violence period.

I respect you and your opinion but you are just plain wrong with your assumption that arming Jamaicans will put this senseless violence in check. As I have said before, this is Jamaica and they do things in their own way. We don't have to like it but we (as visitors) don't have any right to interfere either. If you are scared of murders, don't go to Jamaica or to Chicago for that matter. You have a choice not like the people who live in Jamaica who can't go affaren.

Bless Up.

[KitchenBeeotch]

@ Tanfastic...

clap! clap! clap! Here Here!

[Blueallah]

Terrific idea: Carry a gun and whenever a motorcycle approaches draw it and if it's a bad guy you shoot first.