The Editor, Sir:

I strongly endorse the position taken by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga in the Monday Gleaner. What we are seeing in Jamaica is that these killers have no feeling for the young, the old, the helpless or the unfortunate. They kill without reason or fear of the consequences.

The argument that these men are victims of their circumstances does not hold any water. They have chosen to be that way, they have chosen to kill, just to show their power. Editor, we have countless examples of people who have come from dire circumstances but have chosen to be better than those circumstances, to rise above these conditions and have come out successful.

Look at our athletes who went to Beijing this year. Many of their stories are fraught with dire situations when they and their parents did not have much, but they tried and tried and others saw their efforts and helped along the way.

God helps those who help themselves. These men must first show that they are willing to help themselves, only then will others be willing to help. People will not 'throw their pearls before swine'. Why should an employer be willing to give money to men and women who have no plan or ambition for better things. People must see you making an effort ... then and only then will they step forward to help.

If they choose to live to create a path of mayhem and destruction, then hang them ... they will not make a positive contribution to this society ... we can go on without them.

- (name withheld on request)