More linkage

Via Alphecca, we learn that a St. Louis alderman is recommending that people arm themselves against criminals.

A city alderman frustrated with the police response to rising crime called Tuesday on residents to arm themselves to protect their lives and property. "The community has to be ready to defend itself, because it's clear the economy is going to get worse, and criminals are getting more bold," Troupe, 72, said Tuesday. Troupe said that when he and residents approached a district police commander last year, they were told "there was nothing he could do to protect us and the community ... that he didn't have the manpower."

I can just see a local police commander here saying something like that. Of course, in these latitudes you don't have to tell people to keep guns in the home to protect themselves. We've been doing that for years.

Of course, the Mayor says that having guns isn't a good idea.

Mayor Francis Slay wrote in his blog Tuesday that some of the most violent crimes in Troupe's ward are committed with guns stolen from law-abiding citizens.

Well, that's what happens when you have burglars running loose, thinking that no one is going to catch them. Burglars love stealing guns. However, when the cops can't protect the people, the people have to do it themselves.

And of course, the police chief is ignoring years of societal statistics about citizens arming themselves.

Police did not immediately return requests for comment. Chief Dan Isom wrote Tuesday in a department blog that citizens arming themselves will lead to more danger, not less, he said.

The thought of people defending themselves, their property and their loved ones gives some people the vapors. Yet another reason not to live in St. Louis.