I can’t believe that Edwards or anyone would say this is a surprise, or an abberation. It’s neither. Last summer my boyfriend and I were assaulted and robbed during broad daylight at the Delmar station. I have maybe ridden the train once since.

And people shouldn’t be fooled: the police and security increasing around the area will do little to nothing, because if anyone has seen a Metrolink security guard you KNOW they are a joke, out of shape and apathetic at best. And the police can’t be everywhere.

I don’t really know what the answer is, but something has got to be done. There is an epidemic of disrespect for humanity among our youth and it does have to do with race. Whether it’s black kids pouncing on a white family or a group of white kids beating a Mexican immigrant to death for kicks, yes, it does have to do with race. This city is not doing enough to take care of its young and we are seeing the repercussions.

I ride the Metrolink twice daily from Fairview Heights to CWE, and usually have no reason to feel apprehensive, even on the few occasions I have ridden as late as 10 P.M. Last night was an exception, though, and I was very disappointed in the response from Metro security. Two youngish-middle aged African-American men were almost coming to blows in the aisle right before the Grand station about 8 P.M., a passenger near the red call button buzzed the driver to tell him we needed security(any other time there would have been at least one in the vicinity!),the train was fairly crowded and many of us were getting a bit nervous with the situation.We pulled into the Grand station, an African-American security guard stepped on and got off fairly quickly without removing the combatants.He couldn’t have said more than “settle down” to them before leaving them on the train to continue their loud verbal altercation through the next several stops.I don’t know if race was significant here or not,but one wonders.Another passenger(I don’t know if he knew them-he was also African-American) stepped in to try to defuse the situation, but they were still cussing at each other and were chest-to-chest when I last saw them on the Civic Center platform.

It seems to me that there is more security on the Illinois side, and sheriffs are a common sight on the trains as well as the platforms. Not so in Missouri.The only problem I have witnessed in Illinois was a woman slapping around her toddler(I didn’t actually see this, I spoke to the woman who reported it,I just saw the end result and asked what happened),which was promptly reported to an on-board sheriff and she was removed at the next station.I plan to continue riding Metro, but I may invest in pepper spray.Gina is right, though, you have to take responsibility for your own safety.Cameras just record the crimes, they don’t stop them, and I also question how useful many of the guards would be for anything beyond calling for backup.

The concealed weapon agruement. So tired of it. A concealed weapon in this case would have done nothing to prevent this and probably made it worse. There were TWENTY of them!!! and I would guess at least one was packing. The second you reach for that gun HOLSTERED to your shoulder they would have pulled the gun from their waist and put a bullet between their eyes. I have a good friend who works in the projects often. He has a concealed weapon permit and does carry a gun. He admits if he is ever robbed or car jacked at gun point it will do him little good. The thug has the element of surprise and has his gun POINTED AT YOU!! And if this thug thinks for a nano second you have a gun you are good as dead.

I too have stopped riding metro. The group of black thugs that get off and on metro at their liesure (like they own the thing)without paying and then present the attitude they are thugs got too nerve racking for me. I decided I would never enter the lions cage at the zoo so why am I riding public transportation when these thugs are worse than a caged lion. At least if the lion attacts it has a valid reason!!!!

Race does play a part wether we are to afraid to say it or not. Look at the murders in the city and county. Where are they? predominantly black neighborhoods. I don’t think you need for proof than that to figure out who commits more crime. I would agree that there are social economic reasons for this but I don’t see the black community or the black race doing much to stop it. They need to start with black women having children out of wedlock

10/15 years ago a talk show host Bruce B said until St Louis does something about the young black punks this will never make it. He was run out of town you might look at getting him back. But its great that ballpark village is under way so we can bring more raw dumb meat downtown in the off season.

First off, we don’t need untrained fools on trains with weapons. The cops have enough trouble already. There is a problem of some security folks with Metrolink who do know some thugs, and many times they chat with them on the same day these folks hassle people. I’ve never had trouble on the link, but many folks have. I’m used to walking amongst some tough characters, and there is certain things they look for in an easy mark.

I remember the first time I had to deal with some folks who imformed us they raised their kids to crime. Purposefully they did this. They threw it in our face and seemed to enjoy further that we would be supporting their kids. Yes, people, there are folks who breed to have little criminals put on earth. You saw a bit of that when that guy robbed that place holding his son last week.

Perhaps it is time to sterilize repeat criminals and those who breed their kids to be criminals. It has not much to do with economics, and more to do with attitudes. We are coming to the place where no amount of law enforcement on every corner will help. And with no more work details in prisons, we will have a big load supporting all those who are locked up as time goes by.

Here you may see more peoples of color raging, but in appalachia you see as many whites acting fools. They are already letting folks slide for violent crimes against people because there is not enough room in the jails. Tie those incorrigibles tubes…snip…snip…snip. Problem solved for the next generation. Your kids! it’s a lot safer than everyone carrying guns everywhere.

Tireofit,

Fine, be defenseless if you want. Frankly, when faced with 20 “youths” determined to do me harm, I’d rather be carrying. If more people carried and defended themselves, these “youths” might think twice about assaulting white people at random.

Kurt, if you were worried about your numbers on TOTD, I am sure this one is gonna get a few responses.

I forgot who proposed it awhile back, maybe Bosley Sr., that we have public canings. Catch the thugs, cane them in public, charge admission, and you kill two birds with one stone, punish the criminal and raise funds for Metro security.

I agree with Slugger. Sterilize deadbeats and in a generation or two this country will be near perfect.

There is absolutly nothing worse than traveling home from a St Louis sporting event in a sardine like atmosphere jammed packed with drunks,smelling of god knows what dropping the f bomb every other word in front of my 11 yr old and his two pals.I won’t make that mistake again!

Oh and there has to be some sort of capacity law people keep pileing on the doors can bearly shut and further more those of you CAC folks, you fire that gun your more likely to harm an innocent bi-stander than the intended thug. When its crowded the way it was Sunday night following the Carinals game security is helpless its a very scarry situation with crime waiting to happen.

The last time I road metro was leaving and returning from UMSL. A group of 5-6 black thugs began harassing me and a friend. When he brandished his badge and asked them if they knew what comes with it (9mm), they backed down and moved to the end of the car. I’ll keep driving my own car and burnig my own fuel so I don’t have to put up with people like that. You don’t hear stories of “gangs” of white kids assaulting people on Metro. Race matters.