Valley Perspective : Empower the Police to Take Back the Streets : We need to restore the balance between victims’ rights and suspects’ rights. Learn to protect yourself and your family, but think twice about carrying a gun.

As the gun shots echoed through the New Year’s Eve sky, I could only wonder who would fall prey to this blatant ignorance. What small child would be the victim of a stray bullet through a window, what innocent bystander’s family would suffer the unbearable pain of the senseless death of a loved one.

But I really did not have to wonder because, as a Los Angeles police officer, I see the results of this ignorance and sociopathy every day. Statistics may tell us that crime is down, but reality tells us that there is more cruel violence, that criminals are more brazen and that in more cases than we care to count, the criminal justice system is failing society. At the end of the day, we believe our instincts, not the statistics.

The past few years have opened a Pandora’s box when it comes to victims’ rights. We have had to listen to a vocal minority campaign, ad nauseam, for the rights of suspects, leaving average, law-abiding citizens with the fear of victimization permeating their lives.

So we get angry. We become incensed. We want to fight back. Most of all, we want change.

One question that has surfaced is whether the law abiding should arm themselves to fend off the criminals on the street.

Should you prepare for that confrontation with a robbery suspect, a carjacker, an armed psycho who wants your Rolex or other personal property?

If you said yes, read that second question again. The first key word is prepare. The average person is not a worthy opponent to the average criminal. That criminal is like a hungry animal stalking prey. He or she is ready, perhaps preoccupied with where the next fix is coming from, but certainly not with picking up the kids after school or the presentation at the office later in the afternoon or with a parent sick in the hospital. The criminal is focused and concentrating.

And far more powerful than you, a citizen in possession of a handgun on the street, is that criminal’s element of surprise. At that moment of confrontation, there is no competition. The criminal is in control.

And then, how often will your handgun be a tool of emotion, in the wrong situation and the wrong hands?

Instead of just calling the police when the drunk driver totals your car, the emotion of the moment might end in shots being fired and a life being lost. And you will go to jail. Because no matter how much the criminal disgusts you--or me--there must be some semblance of order.

A handgun holds so much power, the power over life and death. One wrong move, one unprepared moment, and you are dead or a family member is dead or paralyzed.

After victimization occurs, anger and frustration are so intense that it is almost indescribable. If you and I try to put this all in perspective, though, we must ask ourselves if it is worth losing our life or the life of someone we love over things . . . property . . . stuff. Cars, jewelry and money can be replaced; you and your family cannot.

As a law enforcement officer, I don’t expect law-abiding citizens to sit idly by and wait to become victims. Practice crime-prevention techniques. Be aware. Lock your doors. Make security a priority at home, at work and in your car. Get involved in Neighborhood Watch. Teach your kids. Know your surroundings. Don’t invite an attack.

Most important, let’s again empower law enforcement. The silent majority needs to come forward and tell us that you want us to take back your streets.

Let’s put victims’ rights in the forefront and put criminals behind bars. The proper balance of power must be restored, so that those who are committed to living by society’s rules can live without fear and those who have chosen to challenge our system of justice will finally suffer the consequences.