What have our
magistrates, politicians and peace officers to fear? With the alarming
escalation of violent crime and criminal activities within our local
communities, is it fair to conclude (suggestive by their unwilling attitude and
ineffective response thus far) that they are somehow immune? Could it be that God has place a hedge of
divine protection around the judicial and political leadership and enforcers of
law in our Bahama Islands?
As silly as the above
questions might appear, the facts concerning this issue, relative to
vulnerability, leave many average Bahamians routinely contemplating the very
same - constantly baring in mind that crime is not a respecter of persons.
Seemingly, lawlessness
is becoming, if not is, our culture.
Ritualistic and retaliated killings are now more popular than partaking
in Holy Communion. Where on Sunday nights
and within spectacular holy edifices, time were habitually set aside in honor
and reverence to the Lord our God; are now become as ghost towns, wherein even
the spirit of praise and thanksgiving are sacrilegiously made a mockery. When the fear of the Almighty God takes second
place to the fear of thieves, murderers and child-molesters, what remains of
civilization are the samplings of fearful creatures barely living a sub-human
existence.
Take special note: as
the recently elected Christie administration, under a campaign theme of “put
Bahamians first” undertakes to implement their “swift justice” agenda, the PLPs
member of parliament for Tall Pines, in an ‘explicit’ 2012 budget address
within the hallow chambers, unapologetically advocated vigilantism as an
alternative to judiciously combating crime.
The MP further ranted his
endorsement toward wearing concealed weapons, specifically by the Honorable
Minister and Junior Minister for National Security – to which, during a recent
public address, the Hon. Minister for National Security characterized the
uncontrollable crime dilemma as “War”. Every
rational thinking Bahamian ought to weigh the gravity of the minister’s
comments upon crime, contrasted with the Hon. Member for Tall Pine’s budget
address; a man venerated for “shooting from the hips”.
Are we, the law-abiding
citizens of this peace-loving nation, to now take up arms and fight fire with
fire - duly undertaking an honorable obligation: Not in coldblooded wrath or in
hatred nor for righteous vengeance, but rather in the name and for the
restoration of justice; to do that which
our judicial system is unwilling and/or unable to do.
In these evil times,
one is force to consider the pragmatism of owning a weapon for protection. With an increasingly backlogged judicial
system, coupled with an undermanned and overwhelmed law enforcement department;
it may simply prove justified to one’s good sense and health to remain
“strapped” at all times.
However, although not a
man of faith, I would like to think our universe were ordered along a rational
path not so randomly persuaded as might oftentimes appear. Notwithstanding surmountable evidence to the
contrary, supreme purpose were establish to all things in existence for the
benefit of universal balance. To this end, nature creates an equal counter
effect to compliment everything (i.e., day and night, hard and soft, ice and
fire, pleasure and pain, birth and death) and, if the pragmatic politician is
indeed correct – the increasing escalation of violent criminal activities do
justify the advent of vigilantism.
This social observer
and political analyst is not a card-carrying member of the (NRA), National Rifle
Association… at least not yet. However,
if crime continues unabated, I could easily see myself becoming an avid
spokesperson venerated as the great Charlton Hesston. Being an above-average individual of modest repute
and temperament, harboring zero-tolerance for inefficiency and nefarious activity;
it is not beyond reason that I would rather reside within an orderly
gun-carrying society than to reside within a society - wherein but one innocent
life snuffed because of evil doers.
In closing, allow me to
echo this very profound and prophetic statement: “Guns do not kill people. Stupid people kill people.”
