It starts and ends with law and order (Commentary) - masslive.com

Keep the “Law & Order” opening theme song in your head as you read this letter, for dramatic effect. “Keep going, honey, this neighborhood doesn’t look safe.” “Call me right away when you get there, dear.” We have all heard and said remarks like this from our loved ones, out of concern for safety. But what if you lived in the neighborhood that many would be too scared to even stop at? What if the crimes reported in our local paper were not just the petty crimes amongst those who know each other? For now, we do not need to worry about this, as our police department does good work in Westfield, and those in our community are generally the good guys. Then why does a community need so many police officers if there isn’t much of any crime to report? The answer is the same as it would be for any place on the map. Deterrence of crime makes us feel safer than a solved crime.

When feeling any immediate danger, our central nervous system responds and our senses are heightened as a natural safety mechanism. Our thinking isn’t quite as clear, but our bodies are ready to act. When the threat of danger isn’t always immediate, concerns are still heightened, a common experience for residents of big cities. That’s not just adults reading the newspaper in the morning before work; it is children worrying of getting beat up on their way to school, and old folks clutching their wallets taking public transportation. In an environment like this, it is nearly impossible to learn, work or live comfortably.

Amongst all the other inflation fun of the past year, a giant spike in crime has hit our country in record numbers. From murder to shoplifting, criminal acts of all kinds have spiked in the last year. Well, murder is still a criminal act, but sadly for business owners, shoplifting is not. You can be arrested for stealing from the store, but the chance of any real punishment is minuscule.

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source: https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2022/02/it-starts-and-ends-with-law-and-order-commentary.html

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