| Philadelphia Mayor Pleads with Criminals |
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| Misc |
| Written by Mike Kinsey |
| Monday, 31 July 2006 03:31 |
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On July 27, Mayor John F. Street addressed the citizens of Philadelphia, PA in an attempt to plead with criminals to lay down their weapons. Mayor Street called for those that have been contributing to a current spike in gun violence to take a deep breath before pulling the trigger to settle minor conflicts or perceived snubs. The Mayor said, That momentary loss of control or need to demand respect might not only snuff the life out of your victim but could also destroy your lifes chances and subject two families to untold pain and suffering." While these are admirable sentiments that should be heeded by those pre-disposed to murder, Mayor Streets words have thus far had no effect. Three people were shot and killed the day after his public address, bringing Philadelphias murder rate to 229, compared to 208 at this time last year. If Mayor Street would like to proactively improve his city's crime rate, he should be encouraging the people of Philadelphia to apply for a Pennsylvania license to carry a concealed handgun. It has been shown that as more law-abiding citizens carry for the defense of themselves and others, the violent crime rate decreases due to criminals fearing an encounter with an armed target. |