Meet Hartford's Self-Defense Brigade: Taking Crime Fighting Into Their Own Hands
These people understand that the government won't always be there to save them.
In Hartford, Connecticut, a predominantly Black neighborhood has taken an innovative and controversial step to combat rising violent crime instead of relying on the police to protect their community. Known as the “Self-Defense Brigade,” this group of about 40 legally armed citizens patrols the streets and monitors the neighborhood in an effort to keep their community safe.
Despite criticism from local officials, the brigade’s founders and supporters believe they are making a significant impact.
The so-called “Self-Defense Brigade” — made up of about 40 legally armed citizens — are voluntarily patrolling the streets of Hartford’s North End wearing body cameras mostly on nights and weekends, according to the group’s founder, Cornell Lewis.
When the armed volunteers are not on the streets, the group monitors video feeds from a dozen drones hovering over the neighborhood, and 75 home surveillance cameras in the neighborhood.
“The Democratic machine in Hartford is either unwilling or unable, incapable of doing it, and people are paying their tax dollars, and they’re not really getting any kind of service,” Lewis told Fox News. “So we want the people to understand, number one, self-defense is not a dirty word.”
Naturally, local government officials are not happy about this group. Hartford’s Democratic Mayor Arunan Arulampalam released a statement to Fox News, arguing that “Our community has seen so much pain and trauma, and what we need is for those who love this city to do the hard work of healing that pain, not walk around our streets with guns trying to take the law into their own hands.”
Similarly, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker has voiced concerns, saying, “It’s a bad idea, and it’s not welcome and there’s a number of reasons for that. We need fewer guns on our street, not more.”
Lewis countered this assertion by saying the group is not comprised of vigilantes. The volunteers are all trained in legal security and possess permits to carry concealed firearms for self-defense.
Archbishop Dexter Burke from Walk in the Light Church asked the group to start patrolling the streets after a February shooting ended with two men dead near his church. “I feel that we are really putting a dent on crime,” he said. “I think that we’ve exceeded 100% in terms of success.”
One of the primary motivations behind the formation of the Self-Defense Brigade is the failure of traditional law enforcement to effectively protect the community. This sentiment resonates with many residents who feel neglected by the authorities. By taking matters into their own hands, the brigade aims to fill this gap and ensure that their neighborhood receives the protection it deserves.
The fact of the matter is that even a police force that is doing its job cannot always be present to stop bad actors from victimizing the community. In most cases, they arrive after the crime has already been committed. You are your own first line of defense, which is why gun ownership is so important. Relying on the government to be your protector is not a practical solution when facing imminent danger.
If anything, the local government should welcome this development. When members of the community step up to protect their neighbors, it sends a message to would-be criminals seeking to harm the residents. Violent criminals tend to prefer easier targets, which is why mass shooters typically target gun-free zones. The last thing a home intruder wants to confront is an armed homeowner who is willing and able to use violent force to stop them.
Moreover, the group seeks to work with law enforcement to keep their community safe. The body-worn cameras the volunteers use are aimed at gathering evidence of crimes that can be turned over to law enforcement. They also ensure that members of the group are transparent and accountable.
In conclusion, the Self-Defense Brigade represents a bold and innovative approach to community safety. By addressing the shortcomings of traditional law enforcement, empowering residents through self-defense, and leveraging technology for accountability, the brigade offers a compelling case for why such initiatives can be beneficial. It also exemplifies the reality that we are ultimately responsible for protecting ourselves and our communities.
God bless them. Too many of our neighbors -- including Black ones -- live now with increasingly inadequate protection to maintain the safety of children, seniors, immigrants and, yes -- local businesses. Streets in SoCal are not safe for women walking alone, and parents have stopped taking their children to parks because of discarded syringes, pipes and derelicts who have settled in.