To the Editor:

I commend the Simmons Voice for a well-done editorial in the January 29 paper on why Mayor Walsh should not arm the Boston Police Department (BPD) with assault rifles. Given that the BPD’s history includes excessive and unpunished violence, that Boston’s history includes high racial tensions, and that communities with high gun violence are also communities of color, it is clear that more guns to police is not a solution.

Race-based police brutality continues to result in unnecessary harm and deaths of men of color. In November, Latino 17-year-old Jesus Huerta supposedly shot himself in the head in the back of a police cruiser despite being handcuffed. In September, 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell was shot to death by police when seeking help after a car crash. He was Black, as were Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant and Rodney King.
As long as racially-targeted police brutality exists, it does not make sense to try to protect communities of color by giving police more guns. The proposed assault rifles will build on a fear of police and sense of insecurity. Instead, Mayor Walsh should turn to communities, as he promised, to discuss and implement real solutions.

Sincerely,
Ruthy Rickenbacker
Boston, MA