The current debate on allowing the public access to pepper spray and Tasers as a form of self defence against criminals is proving to be quite interesting. Actually, some of the comments, in my opinion, have crossed over from the sublime to a Trinidadian high of hilarious."What prevents petty criminals from using these items to commit crimes themselves?" Another is "These are much cheaper than guns and as a result, crime will increase!"
Okay then, if we accept that theory, why not ban the sale of cutlasses, hunting and kitchen knives and the sale of block ice, since ice picks will be have to be made available?And we should not stop there, only puncture-proof tyres should be sold for cars since we should ban the sale of wheel spanners which, in the hands of a criminal can be extremely intimidating!Now comes what I consider to be the million-dollar question: will the banning of pepper spray, Tasers, cutlasses, knives and wheel spanners prevent a criminal from arming themselves with these items? Will they be deterred because it is against the law to do so?
For God's sake people, these people are intent on breaking the law, not observing it! Has the refusal by authorities to grant firearms to law abiding citizens prevented criminal louts access andownership of same? Criminals will arm themselves with the tools of their trade whether they are legal or not. It is the law-abiding citizens who are left naked and defenceless.Preventing law abiding citizens access to these simple and affordable means as a first line of defence cannot be justified with these moronic assumptions.It has been proven that use of these items have a positive impact on crimes such as mugging and rape etc.But I keep forgetting this is Trinidad, and layers of backwardness are only dispensed with decades after other countries do so. The propensity to resist change, even in the face of insurmountable evidence, is endemic and firmly imbedded in the psyche of our people–especially the country's administrators.
V Lutchman
Maraval