ShotSpotter

It is endlessly entertaining living in Boston given the depth of character of those who have been elected to represent us.  From Beacon Hill to City Hall to Washington, I admire their determination to consistently expose themselves to ridicule seemingly without a shred of self-awareness or self-doubt.  This issue, however, is literally a matter of life and death.

Our Senate duo (Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey), along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, has determined that the ShotSpotter system is racist and in violation of civil rights law because it has been utilized primarily in communities of color. Okay, the BPD gun-related violence data show that the system is most effective in high crime areas.  Makes sense.  You want the system to identify gunshots and alert the police, right?  You want the police to either apprehend the perpetrator quickly and provide medical assistance to the victim or both, right?

This appears to be a case in which advanced technology can actually save lives.  That’s a good thing.  The fact that Markey, Warren, and Pressley have determined that it’s racist doesn’t shock me.  What shocks me is how little value they put on public safety.  Here is a system that can irrefutably reduce violence and physical harm, yet they conjure up a reason to oppose it.  I would expect this from Pressley, but I thought Markey and Warren would be more objectively informed.

Sean F. Flaherty

Boston

RFK Jr. on unrest

As an undergraduate in New Haven, CT who directly experienced the campus unrest during the 1960’s, I totally agree with what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said about the very similar events the US is currently experiencing:

In saying “American universities can be part of the solution in the Middle East.” RFK, Jr. is suggesting three basic steps he would take as president to diffuse the situation:

1. Direct the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to investigate the state of civil rights at our nation’s universities. Whatever our views of the Middle East, we cannot tolerate a situation in which Jewish and Israeli students are afraid to walk to class. Pro-Palestinian students should also be able to protest without fear of retaliation.

2. Direct the Attorney General to deploy the Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) to universities to provide conflict resolution expertise so that tensions on campus can be kept within bounds.

3. Direct the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights to develop guidelines for universities that deal with the question of overnight encampments, which create new challenges for free speech and safety.

Currently, RFK. Jr. seems to be the only voice of reason, so before this unrest escalates to what we saw in those earlier days, I suggest we follow his guidelines.  He is quickly gaining ballot access across America, so you will have a chance to vote for him in November as our 47th US president.

Rebecca Hull,

Hancock, NH