Trying to eke out an existence in Baltimore has become a daily, even hourly, struggle for many. Oh, it was arduous enough before the recent spate of homicides occurred. But now it is simply a matter of good, law-abiding citizens of Baltimore being deprived of living in any semblance of peace ("Mother, boy, 7, found slain," May 29).
What shreds me is that this is occurring here in Baltimore, not Beirut, Lebanon!
Law abiding residents of Baltimore shudder with fear inside their homes, their supposed sanctuaries. They are doubly sure not to pass by windows while being "incarcerated" in their own residences. They dare not open their front doors to sit back and enjoy a spring evening on the front porch with a tall sweet tea. How pathetically sad!
What does that say about the sick, morally-depraved city and society in which we live?
Can you play hardball with the spineless jackals who are intent on gunning down each other in our bloodstained streets? Will the expression Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake used, "Give them space to destroy" permanently taint her political career? Will that be her epitaph?
Madame Mayor, please quit the emotionless sound byte interviews and begin to put an end to the genocide in your city. This problem has devolved during your watch, and people of Baltimore look to you and ask just what you are going to do to make our streets safe once again.
Show the people of Baltimore your mettle, your backbone. Let your inner junkyard dog come forth. Rid the city of creeps with guns. That should be your first priority in moving the city forward. All other issues should pale in comparison.
As Marvin Gaye sang, "This ain't livin'." I hope it's not already too late for Baltimore to rebound.
Patrick R. Lynch, Nottingham