Crime in Hartford, Conn., has reached such alarming levels that residents have organized armed patrols to ensure the safety of one area. However, the town’s officials are dismissing the efforts of these individuals trying to protect themselves.
A “Self-Defense Brigade,” consisting of approximately 40 legally armed citizens and established at the request of local religious leader Archbishop Dexter Burke, safeguards the streets of Hartford’s predominantly black North End.
Following the murders of two men near his church in February, Burke decided to take action. Hartford, with a population of about 121,000, witnessed 36 murders in 2023 and 40 in 2022, the latter being a nearly two-decade high.
In per capita terms, 36 murders in Hartford would be equivalent to New York recording 2,456 homicides.
It’s no surprise that people are taking steps to protect their community. They are doing so responsibly by wearing body cameras during patrols and using drones to enhance the neighborhood watch.
However, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam believes they are the issue, stating, “Our community has seen so much pain and trauma, and what we need is for those who love this city to do the hard work of healing that pain, not walk around our streets with guns trying to take the law into their own hands.”
This sentiment aligns with the policies that have contributed to Hartford’s current state of affairs, such as Connecticut’s implementation of controversial criminal justice reforms akin to New York’s. These include a “Raise the Age” law and bail restrictions.
With black citizens accounting for over half of the gun homicide victims in Connecticut despite making up only 10% of the population, it is understandable why they are standing up to protect their neighborhood.
Mayor Arulampalam may voice his concerns, but the fact that the public feels so threatened falls on his shoulders as the mayor.
As Mayor Adams takes responsibility for public safety in New York, it serves as a reminder for residents under progressive leadership to consider the consequences of supporting policies that may lead to similar situations.
New Yorkers and others living under progressive governance must question the impact of endorsing pro-crime agendas. Failure to do so could potentially lead to the formation of self-defense brigades in other communities.
