Pubdate: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 Source: News Journal (DE) Copyright: 2002 The News Journal Contact: http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/822 INNOCENT PEOPLE ALSO GET STUNG BY SHOOTINGS OVER DRUG TERRITORY Wilmington Mayor James Baker and Police Chief Michael Szczerba have sought to allay fears about the recent rise in shootings by explaining the violence is merely the result of more successful drug busts in hot spots. That is a rationale, not a justification. The only thing that will relieve fears of street violence is a decrease in street violence. The mayor and police chief are trying to tell people that most of Wilmington is safe as usual, and that the problems are only occurring in locales where most visitors, commuters and residents never venture. But as long as the city is experiencing a rash of shootings anywhere, innocent people are at risk too. These hot spots are not deserted; people live there. It is unacceptable to imply their safety isn't as important as everybody else's. The fact that most shootings are related to turf wars among drug gangs, and that most victims have criminal records, has limited relevance. If police are taking drug hustlers off the streets and shooting breaks out when other hustlers try to move in and fill the vacancies, something is missing from the overall public safety strategy. Chief Szczerba said that the increased violence was not unanticipated because busting drug hustlers means "we have stirred up a hornet's nest." It seems to us that if you know you are going to stir up trouble, you make sure measures are in place to protect bystanders from getting stung. As long as bullets fly, even in confined territory, the public is endangered, not just the thugs. Hornets fly off in all directions. If drug hustlers are still fighting for turf, it means the problem is not solved. The answer lies in eliminating drug turf everywhere in Wilmington so that black-marketeers have no place to shoot each other to see who gets to sell drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel