Give Up The Guns

Dear Mr. Editor:

GIVE UP THE GUNS

I am of the opinion that if someone does not speak out against the gun-slinging here, the rocks will cry out. Everywhere you go among Anguillians, the question is being asked – “Lord what Anguilla is coming to?” A few years ago I could sleep in my home with doors and windows open, day and night, now I am afraid to stay inside with them closed.

I am afraid that if we seek to hide our crimes, there would be more criminal activity. The sad thing too is that innocent people are being hurt. How has this kind of behaviour come our way? Someone has truthfully said that with progress comes crime, but this should not really happen.

I would give anything for the day when everyone was his neighbour’s keeper in every sense of the word. Today, everyone looks out for self. Everyone is busy trying to make the dollar, trying to keep up with or above, his neighbour. Selfishness reigns supreme.

The moral values which were instilled in me and many others are placed on the back shelf because no one has the time to teach the young ones to love and respect others. Both parents are working at two and three jobs so the youth are free to roam around without proper direction.

It is a downright shame. It is abhorrent and sickens the heart. As an Anguillian citizen, I am ashamed of the behaviour of these faceless hoodlums in our midst. We need to remind each other where we were only some short years ago. Parents should tell their children how life was before our present prosperity when such modern trappings like television and high lifestyles were non-existent.

It was not a life of plenty bread and butter, but hard work and love and respect for big and small. If only we could reverse the hands of the clock, I wouldn’t hesitate to do that for one minute. Hard work, good morals and respect for life and property are much, much better than gun-slinging.

For the sake of our island, something needs to be done quickly – like an exterminating force – to wipe out this cancer of violence which is eating away our core values. We want a crime-free and a gun-free society and this is possible.

Where are the Concerned Citizens in this matter? This is something to march about.

(Name withheld at writer’s request.)