Local View: Move fear from law-abiding to lawbreakers.
One might approach the Central Florida crime problem with a balance of fear and love. Those of us who are the Scott Maxwells, the fathers, the mothers and the grandparents raising teens with a value system of respect for others find themselves fearful — a fear inside that we do not want to pass on to our children.
The bad guys, the ones with no respect for law, are fearless. How did this happen? I watched as cameras in homes recorded breakin and grabs, young men breaking windows, entering homes, snagging 60-inch TVs, anything electronic. You and I would be fearful. Why not them?
Do they say, “What is the worst thing that will happen if I commit this deed?” Or do they think nothing at all about it, joining a group of open-armed thieves where welcome? Do they even know there might be a different path they could follow if given a chance? I doubt it.
Sentinel columnist Maxwell’s children are taught a balance of love and fear — a cautious fear, not a paranoid fear. They see love in their homes, respect their parents’ opinions, most of the time, but revert to core teachings. They experienced news of the Pulse nightclub shooting, a uniting of differences, a purposeful but sad chapter in Orlando’s life.
Fear is lacking in the youth. I can’t brag about being reared with a bit of fear, but it worked. It seems to me, we need to add a combination of fear and resources, a mix to help those ages 18 to 25. We have numerous agencies, such as Covenant House for those younger, but we need a broader referral base. Young adults are dropped into our multicultural Orlando and struggle to survive, often resorting to gang activity or small group crime. They need a safe place — if not their home, a place where they unite to add to the community, a community offering mentors, apprenticeships and employment.
I advocate a twopronged approach. Increase police presence. And I mean uniformed police or troops with large guns, as other countries do. You say more guns? I say instill fear. Dare these teens, young adults, to disrupt Orlando. Put police in many neighborhoods, in public places. Give them decisionmaking authority: release, arrest, detox, referral.
Second, establish a strict curfew time, based on age ranges. Many metropolitan communities have gone this route. It works. Again, if caught, the person is taken home. Cities like Cincinnati have several resources available if home is not an option. If there are previous breaches, then the person goes to jail.
Orange County deserves more than a “what can we do?” attitude, as Maxwell calls it. We can come together. Pulse proves our resources of love. Can’t we pool other resources long term to make our county safe again?
I advocate moving the fear from us to the lawbreakers, giving Orlando the reputation of a city of love safety. It’s time. Now. Not a drawn-out sixmonth task force but an immediate action committee with short-term goals. A curfew can be implemented this week by our mayor. That’s a start.