Comunity action can stop violence

We can sympathize with the residents of Charleston where three shootings in the past two weeks have claimed two lives and left others injured. There is absolutely no reason for this senseless violence. Community leaders there are understandably concerned and we in Sikeston should be concerned as well.

It's truly difficult to pinpoint the reason some resort to violence in our crumbling society. Drugs and gang affiliation often play a role but the culture of violence goes deeper than gangs and drugs. There is simply a segment of society where violence and gunplay are commonplace. In fact, it's fairly easy to predict where this violence will occur. But trying to determine when and why are much more complex.

Here's how you reduce the violence:

First, you ensure that law enforcement has all of the tools necessary to address the issue and then you assure law enforcement that they have community support. Without these two elements, law enforcement can only react instead of being proactive.

Secondly, you address housing issues where violence is more apt to occur. In Sikeston, for example, you can chart a map and locate the likely locations where gunplay or other violence have occurred. Then you systematically explore those individuals within that housing location with a history of violence. And you place a police presence within that area that clearly signals your intent to address the violence.

But the most important element to eliminating the violence is community support. Just because violence doesn't occur in your own backyard doesn't mean you should sit by quietly. What occurs in any neighborhood of a community impacts that entire community. That is a lesson unfortunately lost on far too many residents of our community. There is this silent complacent attitude that violence is isolated to certain areas, therefore, it's not a problem to me. That attitude is so patently wrong on many levels.

We have so much in our community in which to take pride. But at the same time, like Charleston, we have issues that must be addressed. We must be vigilant in controlling who resides within our community. And if that means landlords - some far too greedy for their own good - should better monitor their tenants, then so be it. If we open our doors to all comers, we may invite trouble. We can be accommodating and still be aware that some people come here for reasons that are highly suspect. It is that element that we need to eliminate.

Our hearts go out to the city of Charleston. The overwhelming majority of those residents want the violence to end as well. They want a safe community, a prosperous community and a community in which they can take pride. We're all in the same boat.

But we must quit talking about the issue and start taking action. We've had enough funerals.