As a seventh degree black belt of 41 years and having trained military, police, Drug Enforcement Administration agents and the general public, it is refreshing to hear a citizen quote street safety rules correctly ("Baltimore's 21-foot rule necessary to protect police," Oct. 25).
At 21 feet, anyone can get to me in less than three seconds. You can bet I am prepared — and expect the police officers whose salaries my taxes help pay to be prepared — to deal with that situation, and I would defend those officers to the bitter end.
And by the way, providing health care, education and jobs for Baltimore's citizens would go much further toward reducing these risks than the old, tired refrain of "get the guns off the streets." Crime rates are always lower when people have opportunity. And by the way, most of them would take those opportunities.
Celie Hanauer, Abingdon