THE STAR HEADLINE for Monday, November 21, screamed "Better Local Guns!" and spoke about the police's disclosure that the weapons were more skilfully built than days of old when board was the material of choice.
Based on what the police are saying, it would appear that their job has become harder as guns are flowing unto our streets both from overseas and out of our local machine shops.
What is interesting about this story is the fact that the majority of those caught with the home- made guns were males under the age of 25. It also shows that some people are willing to use their skills and talents to perpetuate the crime and violence that are ripping our society apart.
Although it could be argued that the lack of opportunity has driven many of our young men towards crime, we must not forget that the creators of these home-made handguns obviously had a chance at making a positive impact on society by using their skills for good. They also had a choice, using the said metals, to develop new technology to aid Jamaica's development. However, they have chosen to use the metals to aid in our destruction.
Consequently, while we are sometimes quick to pinpoint a lack of opportunity for the high crime rate, we must remember that opportunities do not always change a criminal mind, it merely helps it to become a better criminal.
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