Should cab drivers be armed?
by Lori Barrett | June 9, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Posted in baltimore crime, travel
A 63-year-old BWI taxi driver was shot last week during an attempted robbery. Now, some other cabbies believe that it’s time for them to be armed and able to defend themselves against attacks like these.
Said one driver: “[W]e’re talking about human life here and fighting violence with violence is not always the means to an end, but something has to be done for these drivers.”
Another said: “Why shouldn’t you be allowed to carry a weapon if you carry cash?”
Although their profession certainly isn’t the safest — especially in a city like Baltimore — I guess I’m too pro-gun control to feel good about this proposal. What do you think — should cabbies be carrying? And if so, where do we draw the line (bus drivers, etc.)?
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June 9th, 2008 at 7:44 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
So, if the cabbie that got shot had been armed, he would not have gotten shot? Because he totally would have pulled some old West gunslinger $@#!?
June 9th, 2008 at 8:12 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
We should all be allowed to be armed. Listen Maryland has the tightest gun control laws in the country. So it is really really hard to get a gun legally in this state and nearly impossible to legally carry a gun.
So if we are so tight on gun control why is there so much gun violence in Baltimore? Gee could it be that law abiding citizens who want to defend themselves aren't the problem? And that you could make buying a handgun illegal for everyone and criminals would still use them?? DUH
Gun control only makes it easier for criminals to rob, rape and kill the Sheeple.
You pose the question as to whether cabbies should be allowed to carry guns and say what next bus drivers?? How about any law abiding citizen who wants one to defend themselves. Why are cab drivers lives more important than mine, or a bus driver?
June 9th, 2008 at 8:32 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I really just want to know how the cabbie having a gun would have prevented anything. Someone please explain. Is it as a deterrent? How does that translate into the general non-cabbie populace? How much gun violence in Baltimore is directed towards city residents that would be assumed to not have a gun? Subtracting gang and drug related gun violence and gun violence involving legal weapons, how much is left? And to loop back around: how many of those shootings would have been prevented by the other guy having a gun? It seems like the ones it may have--but, really, not even the littlest bit likely--prevented would be canceled out by the other incidents that turned into double-shootings and shootings with higher "collateral damage." Are you arguing out of principle or logic? And with lax gun control, what of the people that still aren't that into packing? Kinda puts them in an awkward spot, eh? Please answer all of these questions. In detail.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:48 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Some cabbies are scary enough sans gun.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:47 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Does b have an editorial policy against naming sources and key players in stories? It's obvious these blogs just repackage other news outlets' work but is it really so hard to take the extra step of copying & pasting the name of whoever you are quoting from another writer's article? I know this isn't real journalism, but it is basic decency to give credit when running a quote.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:20 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Not just cab drivers but every law-abiding citizen should have the right to carry a firearm, period.
Here, unfortunately there are no legal means to do so. How well has that worked for Baltimore?