At the risk of earning the ire of my sisters, I wish to express the view that women can do far more to stem the tide of gun violence in Jamaica.

Before I continue, I must pay tribute to my sisters who are part of the solution and not the problem. There are women who work tirelessly to build a better Jamaica and our families are not contributing to the bloodshed in our land. The founder of Mothers in Crisis made a valiant attempt to get mothers to make a difference in Jamaica.

Helpless victims

It is time for women to stop breeding, nurturing and protecting the violent among us. Some will argue that the poor women are helpless victims dominated by vile men to whom they cannot say no; they have to do the men's bidding or be battered and bruised by the brutish wild beasts that they would be embarrassed to be likened unto, as they do not usually attack and kill their prey just for the fun of it, or just to prove a point.

Some women boast about the men who protect them with illegal guns. They feel safe when their armed men are only a phone call away. They never think that one day the same men may turn the gun on them. They do not know that anyone who is comfortable taking human life will take any life, including the life of their 'loved' ones.

Blame game

Let me hasten to say that this is no excuse for men to behave the way they do. I am not playing the blame game. I am taking the opportunity to remind my sisters that the men who bring sorrow and pain to others are the sons, husbands, boyfriends and other relatives of women. These men did not fall from the sky; nor do they live in the sky. They live among us, but they are safe in the arms of women who defend and protect them when they maim and kill, or are involved in wrongdoing of any kind.

When will the women in Jamaica say "We want to live in a Jamaica that is free from violence and crime?"

I am, etc.,

WINNIE ANDERSON-BROWN

winab@cwjamaica.com