The Italian government wants to put 2,500 soldiers into the streets to help in the fight against crime.
Is this the right way to tackle crime?
One left-wing Italian politician’s reaction was:
“We are not in Colombia where these forces are used to fight terrorism and armed insurrection.”
Do you agree with him or rather with Milan’s right-wing mayor who called the measure an “important warning signal”?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
This is tantamount to declaring martial law. Martial law is something that is used during times of EXTREME emergencies when the situation is out of control. Crime may be high, but not out of control. What is out of control is an over reaction to it.
Here in DC, certain areas have police “checkpoints” where you basically need permission to enter the neighborhood, due to a recent crime wave. 21st century america, liberal city, and you can be turned away by the police from going where you want to.
When did Italy turn into a failed state?!!!! No!! Never!! The army should fight enemies outside the state and not within.
The army will give criminals a reason to become more violent. They are violent enough!! Violence begets more violence.
This also means that prolification of small arms will sky rocket not only in Italy but its neighbours will be affected and Europe in the long run.
Putting the army on the streets will not benefit anyone except the rich drug barons and Hollywood.
After living in LA after the R. A. King riots and seeing truckloads of National Guard troops everywhere in full gear- I can only think that having troops out to control crime would be a horrible experience for the residents and tourists alike. This only oppresses and punishes the non-criminal element- the criminals will continue to thrive. Why is there so much crime??, what is the root of it??- shouldn’t that be addressed first and foremost?
What happens in Italy will happen throughout Europe. The answer is a NO as strongly as I can say.
Hi WHYSers!
I could scarcely believe what I was hearing on the BBC on Sunday when the annchor said that army personnel are to be deployed by the Government as part of the effort used there to control crime in Italy. I was shocked! In Europe, of all places? The bastion of civility and law and order?
But, then, I was reminded that Italy has long had particular problems with crime, specifically in terms of the Mafia (Cosa Nostra) and the exportation of that type of criminality to other places like the US and Australia and the impact of the “Godfathers”. Perhaps not so shocking now that we can digest those portions of the context?
The scourge of crime, currently, is one which requires creative approaches for meaningful resolution. I would never agree to the sense in which soldiers are called in anywhere to quell an upsurge in crime, as it does give a sense of fear that may or may not be warranted.
In that regard, I am agreed with Julie P about the over-reaction to crime, which can also be very debilitating and adversely impact the situation itself.
Indeed, I am not so sure if it means that all of Europe will follow suit, for surely there would be reasons that explain the Italian situation, no?
Non che dubio- No! No doubt- No!
I don’t know how much of a National Guard presence there is in Italy beyond the Vatican police; but looking at what’s happened in France every time the military gets involved how can they even consider using the army. Italy is more prone to violent crime for one and too large to even attempt to control that way, it would be a disaster to try to put the army on the streets. I wonder how much say the soldiers have to ‘shoot on sight’ violent protesters; given that’s what they’re trained to do it’s an inevitable occurrence. Countries that do this always end up questioning ‘how this happened’ even the shooting of one innocent person by the military is a major violation of Human Rights.
In America if the National Guard locked down an entire state there would be massive protest. That’s far from the case in DC or any city even in this country.
I think that it is a great idea.
Dennis
Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, New York
United States of America