Quote Originally Posted by kim&betty View Post
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.