Should those who pay extortion money be prosecuted?

[BlackCryptoKnight]

On the news they were saying that the JLP was proposing that those businesspeople who paid extortion money to criminals should be prosecuted. Does this make sense?

[acidblade]

i don't think they should be prosecuted

[bernie]

On the news they were saying that the JLP was proposing that those businesspeople who paid extortion money to criminals should be prosecuted. Does this make sense?
well....well...well does it?:eusa_thin

[Arch_Angel]

So hold up...if they pass this law, they going to start with the politicians first, then go after the business people? Or are they making sure they are exempt from this law? :eusa_thin

[nester-san]

Kinda silly I think, cause people pay protection for the same reason they pay for security guards. The only sensible way to do this would be to have an alternative because you will get burned out or shot etc. by criminal elements.

There has to be some way to protect those people who have families and work long hours, because criminals will sit in one spot and wait for the entire day till midnight, just to assault or kill them for not paying up.

Police cannot protect them 24 hours a day. Plus curruption is so rampant at all levels that relying on the police force is usually a waste of time.

We have no real quick response police force (under manned, no cars, lazy etc). Paid security companies are usually only other means of protection.

Which is kinda another form of extortion LOL

[tahtah_4755]

If that is passed then there wouldn't be any politicians to begin with.. I think its a security thing y they pay that extortion money...

[AngelsKiss]

On the news they were saying that the JLP was proposing that those businesspeople who paid extortion money to criminals should be prosecuted. Does this make sense?
Have they lost their minds? If these people weren't scared for their lives they wouldn't be paying extortion money.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Have they lost their minds? If these people weren't scared for their lives they wouldn't be paying extortion money.
AK, what kind of question is that? It's politicians we're dealing with you know ...

[Manu]

I think they should be prosecuted. Hear me out though. I think the statement was however premature. To stop such a thriving business the government would have to provide a suitable alternative. This means that they should start by equiping the police force with the necessary tools to fight criminal elements. Then they themselves should disassociate themselves from known Area Leaders, Don men and criminal elements. It is not a good image. Now this money being poured into the extortion racket can be use to provide funding for a task force able to protect life and property. If people come together then can stunt the growth of this business....because the few who choose to stand up are just that.....few! Need more support!

[BlackCryptoKnight]

I think they should be prosecuted. Hear me out though. I think the statement was however premature. To stop such a thriving business the government would have to provide a suitable alternative. This means that they should start by equiping the police force with the necessary tools to fight criminal elements. Then they themselves should disassociate themselves from known Area Leaders, Don men and criminal elements. It is not a good image. Now this money being poured into the extortion racket can be use to provide funding for a task force able to protect life and property. If people come together then can stunt the growth of this business....because the few who choose to stand up are just that.....few! Need more support!
Should a man who hands over his wallet to a gunman holding a gun to his head be prosecuted?

[AngelsKiss]

I think they should be prosecuted. Hear me out though. I think the statement was however premature. To stop such a thriving business the government would have to provide a suitable alternative. This means that they should start by equiping the police force with the necessary tools to fight criminal elements. Then they themselves should disassociate themselves from known Area Leaders, Don men and criminal elements. It is not a good image. Now this money being poured into the extortion racket can be use to provide funding for a task force able to protect life and property. If people come together then can stunt the growth of this business....because the few who choose to stand up are just that.....few! Need more support!
Manu if the govt put a system in place that actually works, do you think ppl would be paying extortion money? No one would need to pay if they knew they could go to the police and get something done while feeling safe doing so.

[acidblade]

I think they should be prosecuted. Hear me out though. I think the statement was however premature. To stop such a thriving business the government would have to provide a suitable alternative. This means that they should start by equiping the police force with the necessary tools to fight criminal elements. Then they themselves should disassociate themselves from known Area Leaders, Don men and criminal elements. It is not a good image. Now this money being poured into the extortion racket can be use to provide funding for a task force able to protect life and property. If people come together then can stunt the growth of this business....because the few who choose to stand up are just that.....few! Need more support!
my yute wipe off yuh mouth :rolleyes:

[Twinkie]

In a nutshell...
Should a man who hands over his wallet to a gunman holding a gun to his head be prosecuted?This sums it up very well because this is EXACTL:Y what is happening.

There was these chinese people who set up shop on Harbour Street, a nice likkle clothes and shoes store. The south man dem mek her know seh, extortion money haffe gwaan, the likkle lady seh, "NO"

Friday night she get a call seh her place bun down. It was a three storey building, From top go dung a bottom bun weh.

If she knew this was gonna happen to her and paid, why in bblazes would you prosecute her?:eusa_doh:

[Manu]

:icon_arro Acid...come out of big people argument!!!

This is why I said the propsoed bill was a bit premature as the government hasn't provided the proper infrastructure to facilitate the type of security needed by the people who are being extorted!!!


Unu blind or something? They are paying to save their hides but what about yours??? They're providing for these criminal elements. This gives them power over the few who aren't willing to pay or simply can't pay. You people are being narrow-minded and are not viewing the situation macroscopically instead of isolated instances.

I do understand the situation but it is the right of the citizen to demand protection from the government. You know why? Cos dem pay dem damn taxes!!! It's no fault of your own why a man can walk up to you and demand your wife, your house and everything that belong to you because he has a gun. It's the fault of the government! Now if you pay him $20,000 this month....what's to stop him from demanding $100,000 next month? What happens when he likes your car....or your wife? You just gonna roll over and turn her over too? Enough is enough man! Unu stop being some cowards and so selfish. Is not unu alone inhabit this world. When unu dead and gone, others gonna come up....unu own kids. Atleast make and effort to shape their future. If you stand for nothing...you fall for everything. If you die in the process....die for soemthing worthwhile. I personally am not afraid to die. Not because I don't love myself and wouldn't want to grow old but because I understand that this world is a temporary stay. Even if my beliefs are a fallacy and there's nothing after this...it still matters not to me. Death is inevitable. The only thing we don't know is when. Why fear it???


*kiss teet*




Anyways

[acidblade]

:icon_arro Acid...come out of big people argument!!!

This is why I said the propsoed bill was a bit premature as the government hasn't provided the proper infrastructure to facilitate the type of security needed by the people who are being extorted!!!


Unu blind or something? They are paying to save their hides but what about yours??? They're providing for these criminal elements. This gives them power over the few who aren't willing to pay or simply can't pay. You people are being narrow-minded and are not viewing the situation macroscopically instead of isolated instances.

I do understand the situation but it is the right of the citizen to demand protection from the government. You know why? Cos dem pay dem damn taxes!!! It's no fault of your own why a man can walk up to you and demand your wife, your house and everything that belong to you because he has a gun. It's the fault of the government! Now if you pay him $20,000 this month....what's to stop him from demanding $100,000 next month? What happens when he likes your car....or your wife? You just gonna roll over and turn her over too? Enough is enough man! Unu stop being some cowards and so selfish. Is not unu alone inhabit this world. When unu dead and gone, others gonna come up....unu own kids. Atleast make and effort to shape their future. If you stand for nothing...you fall for everything. If you die in the process....die for soemthing worthwhile. I personally am not afraid to die. Not because I don't love myself and wouldn't want to grow old but because I understand that this world is a temporary stay. Even if my beliefs are a fallacy and there's nothing after this...it still matters not to me. Death is inevitable. The only thing we don't know is when. Why fear it???


*kiss teet*




Anyways

yuh nuh wipe it off yet? :eusa_wall

[BlackCryptoKnight]

yuh nuh wipe it off yet? :eusa_wall
Breddrin, yuh nuh right fi dat. :eusa_naug :eusa_snoo

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Unu blind or something? They are paying to save their hides but what about yours??? They're providing for these criminal elements. This gives them power over the few who aren't willing to pay or simply can't pay. You people are being narrow-minded and are not viewing the situation macroscopically instead of isolated instances.

I do understand the situation but it is the right of the citizen to demand protection from the government. You know why? Cos dem pay dem damn taxes!!! It's no fault of your own why a man can walk up to you and demand your wife, your house and everything that belong to you because he has a gun. It's the fault of the government! Now if you pay him $20,000 this month....what's to stop him from demanding $100,000 next month? What happens when he likes your car....or your wife? You just gonna roll over and turn her over too? Enough is enough man! Unu stop being some cowards and so selfish. Is not unu alone inhabit this world. When unu dead and gone, others gonna come up....unu own kids. Atleast make and effort to shape their future. If you stand for nothing...you fall for everything. If you die in the process....die for soemthing worthwhile. I personally am not afraid to die. Not because I don't love myself and wouldn't want to grow old but because I understand that this world is a temporary stay. Even if my beliefs are a fallacy and there's nothing after this...it still matters not to me. Death is inevitable. The only thing we don't know is when. Why fear it???


Again, I ask you, should a man who hands over his wallet at the demand of a gunman holding a gun to his head, be prosecuted for complying with the demands of said gunman under threat of murder? The only difference between the man being robbed at gunpoint, and the business owners who pay extortion money, is that the consequence of not complying, may be delayed in the case of the businessman. The end result can be the same. Hence if you say, lock up the businessman, then you must lock up all robbery victims who handed over their goods when threatened.

You are right when you say that extortion money supports criminal activity, and you are right when you say that if people didn't pay, that more of a dent could be made in crime. But really, who has the right to demand that a man sacrifice his life for the greater good of others? Only the individual can make that choice. You can argue on moral grounds, that the good of the many may necessitate the sacrifice of a few (and you'd get opposition, because no one wants to be the few), but you can't force a man to take the bullet. That would be immoral.

Now, I personally am of the view that citizens need to do whatever they can to stem the tide of crime. And I do wish that people could be braver and take a stand against crime, and negativity, and hold firm to high values and good moral principles. But bwoy, I can't beat a man for doing what he feels he needs to do to defend the life of his family, and himself. On the micro level Manu, life more valuable than material things, and it's just not worth it to an individual to die over money. On the macro level, sure, you have to cut the source of funding, but at what cost? Sacrificing the said people you seek to protect? Not acceptable. Not in that way at least.

In previous threads I think I may have been closer to your current viewpoint about people not supporting the criminals, but when talk of locking up people who pay extortion money comes about, it throws a different light on things. Having that stipulation punishes victims, because the reality is that they are victims too. You can't punish victims. You can encourage victims to be good citizens and do whatever they can to help the fight, but you can't force them to sacrifice, or punish them for being victimized.

The solution has to be that a safe environment is created so that citizens can feel comfortable with assisting the law enforcement effort, and standing up to criminals. If that isn't there, we salt bro.

[Manu]

True words BCK and you do have a point. I told you that I'm somewhat of a revolutionist. I don't like to see oppression. Willing to die for it. I may die in vain but I would be content to know that I stood up for what I believe in. That's just me...but in light of....well...the light that you've shed on the matter....let me re-think my stance. Until the government is able to provide a suitable alternative...then no it is not fair to do...but....I still think that they must be other alternatives than paying a man not to shoot you. And if he feels idle one day....he may just come and shoot you anyways. Group and help fund a private task force then if the government can't do it.

[ramesh]

Perhaps then this is a push by the Dons to silence those who are paying the criminals? Why would I expose a criminal who I am paying if I will go to jail also?

[Nastro]

The JLP could say that if these business persons could have been assured safety with our local security forces. Since as it currently stands now, that is not the case. Then I would say persons will have to do what they do to stay alive until better has come.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Perhaps then this is a push by the Dons to silence those who are paying the criminals? Why would I expose a criminal who I am paying if I will go to jail also?
Hmmm... yuh 'ave a point. :eusa_thin

[BlackCryptoKnight]

On the news they were saying that the JLP was proposing that those businesspeople who paid extortion money to criminals should be prosecuted. Does this make sense?

Now that they're in power, is this idea still on the table?

[Manu]

I think the problem with some people is that they hear the word prosecute and automatically think JAIL. This is not so. People who pay extortion are indeed committing a crime. Holding a person at gunpoint and taking their wallet is different from extortion. That is robbery. Extortion is when you have to be constantly paying a man money over and over and over in order for protection. Prosecution should be used as a deterrent but the government needs to provide an alternative and this new witness protection program if done properly may be a step in the right direction. Prosecution can be a fine... or a seizing of goods.

BCK, would you rather to continue paying a man to live in fear or stand up and MAYBE die for something you believe in? Only one of those options is a definite and if you die now, so what? Is this world much to hold on to? Suppose you die and there is no God and simply cease to exist? So what again? Have faith that God knows best. If you die in the line of fire, it's because He allowed and He will take care of your family.