Exercising the Right
Taking Responsibility for Community Safety
NBCConnecticut.com reported on February 26 about a debate raging in Hartford, Connecticut, over how to deal with the city’s rampant crime problem. Reverend Dexter Burke has decided that enough is enough, and he is now encouraging his congregation to get armed and establish civilian patrols in high-crime areas.
According to Burke, the straw that broke the camel’s back was a double homicide that occurred only blocks from his church. Burke was frustrated that the community only reacted to such violence with the same old prayer vigils, which he criticized as “a practice that has gotten old and [is] seen only as a strategy to placate communities of color.”
Reverend Burke is adamant that his idea of armed civilian patrols will drive down crime, and he assured NBC Connecticut that the people manning the patrols “are going to have licensed, concealed weapons [and are] going to assist in fighting crime.” Burke has at least 10 volunteers, whom he described as “an armed security [force] that’s going to walk the streets with individuals, help them to the bus stop. Help them to the grocery store and patrol the area.”
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