Bullet proof vests plea

November 13, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you today because of the constant violence around me. I'm a young black female born and raised in the back of town area. As of Friday, November 13, I fear for the safety of everyone who has a young male family member into this gang violence. I fear that a lot more innocent people are going to get hurt, because of their relatives. "My prayers are with the Kuchler family" and no one should have to go through that because of their relationship to a gang member.

In today's society I would like to see some other form of protection for my people and my family. I was wondering can we have bullet proof vests because the Police do not come around until something happens, only I can protect myself. At this time I think bullet proof vests are needed and should be worn. I walk in and out of my neighbourhood and I'm walking around in fear because I have a family member associated with bad company and I fear that because they can't get at him they might just shoot me. It is sad that I am living in fear but this is the reality we as Bermudians are living in today. I'm not sure if I'm the only one feeling this way but it is what it is.

Please let me clear one thing up, I never thought we had a gang problem. I am just coming to terms and calling it gang violence. I used to look at it as young males that live in their neighbourhood and hanging out in a certain area of their neighbourhood, and I saw nothing wrong with that. Not to say they were doing anything bad, but since which it has become a problem they have made us stereotype them as gangs. Children can not play outside in a safe environment anymore. It is a very scary thing.

I do not have a solution. All I can say is parents from St. George's to Dockyard need to come together. When the Government calls for help and put together anti-violence rallies, parents of these so-called bad boys need to attend and bring these boys together so we could get to the root of it all. It might be hard for some parents, because they would say "not their child" and others parents are out there doing the same thing. So our young males are only doing what they see and what they are allowed to do and could get away with it.

Back to my reasons for writing. Someone please help and clear this up for me. Can citizens of Bermuda have bullet proof vests for protection? Am I the only one that feels this way or is there any other citizens feeling how I'm feeling?

CITIZEN

Pembroke