With The Highest Murder Rate In The U.S., Puerto Rico Needs Immediate Solutions

Puerto Rico Herald ^ | 1/20/2005 | TAINA ROSA

[KwasiOwusu]

If you asked anyone in Puerto Rico what the No. 1 problem on the island is, they more than likely would respond without hesitation, crime. The fact is more murders occur in Puerto Rico than anywhere in the mainland U.S., according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once again, Puerto Rico–with a population of 4 million–ended the year with an alarming homicide rate, higher than the three-largest cities in the mainland U.S. With 790 murders reported during 2004, the island had a higher murder rate than New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

For the third-consecutive year, the number of murders in New York City (total population 8 million) has been under 600, ending 2004 with 571 murders, 25 less than in 2003. Los Angeles (total population 4 million) reported 511 murders and, for the first time in four decades, Chicago’s (total population 3 million) homicide rate fell below 500 to 445, a 25% decrease compared to 2003.

Puerto Rico’s mean homicide rate is three times that of the total U.S. mainland and four times that of Europe. More than 60% of homicides on the island are linked to drug trafficking although sources within the Puerto Rico Police Department say the percentage may be as high as 75%.

[KwasiOwusu]

"A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry speculated that the move may be "what the Americans call 'payback' for the actions of this government in opposing Military action in Iraq."

Very good.

[Redbob]

Lemme guess:
Handguns are strictly regulated there too, right?

[Beckwith]

Sounds like the solution is in the headline.

[Redbob]

Let's not make them a state; they're already enough of a welfare rathole as it is!

Cut 'em lose, let them become a part of Cuba if they want.

[Logic n' Reason]

Well, if their death rate exceeds their birth rate for some time to come; just maybe the problem will solve itself??

[Redbob]

Reason No. 483 not to let Puerto Rico become a U.S. state:

we don't need 2 more Dimocratic Senators.

[joonbug]

Send Jesse and Al down there to stage some protests. Michael Moore can make a croc-umentary film about it. Nancy P and Harry R can blame it on Bush and the MSM can provide the echo.

[Dan from Michigan]

That's almost like Detroit.

[FrankR]

Absolutely.

I went there several years ago on a week long company thing, and the most remarkable site I saw was all the homes with bars on the windows and doors, and usually a fence around them.

We stayed at the El Quistador hotel on the Northeastern shore, but were warned not to leave the grounds unless it was with an official tour, or in groups.

Well, even in Hawaii, we rented a car to tour the island of Oahu, and were warned not to go to the north end of the island, and to leave nothing of value in the car, and leave the car unlocked so they wouldn't break in.

And Hawaii IS a state and they can't even clean that up...so, not much hope for PR.

I think if tourists boycotted these islands, that some of the crime levels would be dealt with quickly...or simply have a Gun Rental Counter in the rent-a-car dealer, and a "temporary carry permit", and it would also cease.

[KwasiOwusu]

"And the DemoRats want to make Puerto Rico a state!!!! "

The RATS simply love high murder rates.
After all, it took a Republican, Gulliani, to get really tough on crime in New York and bring murder rates sharply down, after the, weak on crime RATS, had been sending murder rates up for years.

[Gefreiter]

How about, "bis spater, Liebchen"?

[Nitro]

Once the perps get the idea that the locals shoot back, they will think twice before the crime.

In Puerto Rico I think you'll find the locals are the "perps."

[Sergio]

1. It's as hard or harder to get a CCW in Puerto Rico than it is in NYC or Chicago.

2. The cops there, can never catch any bad guys because they always have the equivalent of a cow bell going on all the time. Let me explain.

At night, police cars have their light bars on. All the time. Parked or moving. Most crime happens at night, so let's say you want to break into someones home, but you see the flashing blue lights coming towards you from a mile away. You hide, wait for the cops to drive by, and then you commit your crime.

Plain clothes offices are a joke as they always walk around with their badge clipped to their belts where everyone can see it and they wear their side arms in plain view where everyone can see then. My theory is that this gives the cops a safety bubble around their cruiser or themselves where nothing is going to happen. The bad guys always know where the cops are and so work somewhere else, while the cops pick up a paycheck for basically just walking around.

3. Most of the murders are lowlife on lowlife. New drug dealers have to knock off the old drug dealer if they want to operate in the old drug dealers territory. Another biggie are crimes of "passion" that also usually involve drugs or alcohol. Most folks who live in neighborhoods that are middle class and better, don't have any of this stuff happening.

4. As my Grandparents used to tell me, it's all the Democrats fault. They tell me that there used to be "workfare" Puerto Rico under the Nixon administration. You need money from the government, you worked for it, digging ditches, roadside cleanup, etc. Menial labor to be sure, but honest labor. Then along came Carter and it turned into "welfare". No need to do anything for the monthly check. Heck, you don't even have to come pick it up, we'll deposit it directly into your bank account.

As much as I love the island, sometimes I do wish the US would cut off all aid. The only way I see of fixing the problems is going cold turkey.

Sorry for the rant, but it hurts to see liberals turn paradise into the murder capital of the world.

Best Regards

Sergio

[cll]

Since 1898.

[Nitro]

How about.......

AchTung, Baby!!

[Nitro]

Puerto Rico already has a state...

it is called New York.

[cll]

"taking benefits from us like Social Security"

I honestly thought that I could join freerepublic to participate in an intelligent exchange of ideas regarding conservative, constitutional and other national issues with informed people. Instead, I have found that, not most, not some, but many people here spread misinformation as does the loathed MSM and I have had to devote half my time here trying to debunk common stereotypes.

For your information, Hu, we do pay Social Security taxes at the same rate as you do in the lower 48, but only get a fraction of the benefits. Employers also pay FUTA or federal unemployment tax. Of the billions in "aid" transferred to PR from the benevolent federal government, how much of that is for pensions of military and federal employees? How much of that is for veterans' benefits? I could go on and on. There's no free lunch and we certainly do not have it.

On "cutting Puerto Rico loose", I'll remind you that you're talking about American citizens. Yes mostly native PR's but the four million also includes mainlanders and new citizens from around the world. Not to mention the large number of "American" businesses that operate here.

So as a fellow American, I ask you that before you go on your rants think that this place I call home is a couple of thousand miles from the Bronx.

On the article, "70% of murders are related to drug trafficking" is a conservative estimate. I would say almost all are and if it's drug traffickers killing drug traffickers, well, so be it.

Thanks,

CLL

[Sergio]

"People from the U.S and locals have tried but the problem is simply not correctable....Its a matter of genetics."

Uncalled for. There are a lot of good people on the island, and many from the island who have given their lives for the United States of America in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, GWI, Bosnia, and now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I know it was probably just an off hand comment said in jest, but it is still hurtful to this Puerto Rican who put in 9 years in the USAF, and to my wife, also Puerto Rican, who served for 11 years.

Your opinion is your own and who am I to challenge it. I just wanted to let you know that not everyone, in a group of people is the same.

Best Regards

Sergio

[RKV]

Thank you for your service to our country. We have a few knuckleheads here who need to learn manners. Any particular thoughts on how to improve the situation since you have more local knowledge than many here?

[1Old Pro]

More than 60% of homicides on the island are linked to drug trafficking although sources within the Puerto Rico Police Department say the percentage may be as high as 75%.

It's the drug money.