[Mr. James]

This just came over WRC-4 news: the taxicab commissioner, a woman I reviled some months ago for suggesting mandatory video cameras, GPS systems and other "security" measures (read: allow police to witness the cabbie's murder in slow motion, at the cabbie's expense) stepped forward and suggested allowing taxicab drivers to arm themselves with handguns as "an idea whose time may have come."

:what:

A DC official suggesting our cab drivers arm themselves??

This idea has the chances of a snowflake in July; WRC interviewed a single cab driver (a 32-year veteran) who said, "I don't like guns, and I don't like knives, but maybe it's time to consider this." Of course, thereon followed the predictable trotting out of sheep who recoiled in horror and said, "I don't think that would be a good idea!!" Not a single person who said, "Hell yes, let these men go home at the end of their shifts."

What is most amazing is this came from the Taxicab Commissioner.

[DeltaElite]

I dunno about DC, but alot of the cabbies here will take you to the drug houses and hookers. Not exactly upstanding citizens if you ask me.

I do agree with arming the populace though.
More armed citizens, means less crime.

[Mr. James]

Cabbies are not only "part of the populace," they are by-and-large citizens too.

Is it your suggestion taxicab drivers should interogate prospective fares as to their intents? I'm sure lots of cab drivers take their fares to do drugs, to buy drugs, to consumate adulterous relationships, the list goes on.

Of course, perhaps they are driving travelers from the airport to home, or to their business hotel, or perhaps to get home from grocery shopping, to get to the voting booth, to get to the hospital, or to get a drunk home so he doesn't drive himself, etc.

Please, give it a rest.

edited for brain cramp

[XLMiguel]

In DC?

When pigs fly.:banghead:

[Edward429451]

Dang Delta, what a terrible thing to say. Thought you were taller than that.

[dev_null]

Considering that the vast majority of cabbies in DC are foreigners on work visas or green cards, and speak precious little English, this ought to be interesting...

-0-

[cuchulainn]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=7443

[DeltaElite]

Read the below post for something that makes sense. :D

[DeltaElite]

Mr James, Edward,
It seems I didn't write clearly. I will try to clarify.
Most of the cabbies in my division aren't running fares from the airport, they are in cahoots with the drug dealers and drug houses.
They deliver customers for a fee, above and beyond the cab fare.
They are the "hookup" for people wanting drugs and hookers, not like the guys on "Taxi". :D

I work in drug infested slums, no airport, no hotel strip, no nice eating establisments.
We had a cabbie murdered about a month ago following a drug deal gone bad in the back of his cab, between him and this passenger. In essence, a drug ripoff.

Of course, we have open carry and shall issue ccw, so arming them is not an issue, most of them are armed anyway. I don't blame them, but some are armed because of their illegal activities.
I have no problem with an armed populace or citizens or non-citizens or space aliens. I do have a problem with armed criminals.

Forgive me if I have offended you, hopefully this will explain my position more clearly.

[Mr. James]

Delta,

It most certainly does. Sorry if I was too quick upon my high horse. :)

[DeltaElite]

Mr James,
No worries, I confuse even myself with my writings. :D

[Edward429451]

Well I was'nt offended. It just sounded bad, and seemed a little double standardy (if thats even a word). It was a blanket statement demeaning all cab drivers as some sort of sub species where just a small percentage of cabbies are 'activly criminal'.

I cant count how many times that myself or other citizens get taken to task on this board for doing the same thing albeit with LEO's. (Ah-Ah-Ahh, cant slam on the cops for a few bad apples), and so forth.

I used to be a cabbie, and its rough to make enough to feed the family unless you 'live in the cab'. The cabbie business is like any other business, the fare is the customer and you give the customer what he wants or your not very professional.

So the cabbie knows where the hookers are. Maybe the fare will give him a tip if he takes him there (which'll cover the shoes the kid needs etc.). You cant slam on the cabbie for that, they're not the police. If the system locked up or killed the criminals as they should, they wouldnt be asking the cabbie where the hookers or drugs are.

Make sense? Give the cabbies a break. Give em back their gun. Keep the criminals off the street and they wont need a ride!

[DeltaElite]

Makes sense to me. Our cabbies have their own guns, since I thankfully don't live in one of the fascist states that prohibit open carry or ccw.
Oddly enough, I think we should legalize most drugs and prostitution.

[BigG]

Prohibition of drugs imho has worked about as good as prohibition of alcohol did. :scrutiny:

[Blackhawk]

The news is in the title, and that's amazing! :what: