In just a couple of short years, we have watched as Philadelphia descended into a criminal hellscape. Of course, the powers that be are convinced that doubling down on the same failed policies is the answer. However, in the real world, things have gotten so bad that one gas station owner in North Philadelphia decided to hire an armed security patrol.
Philadelphia Gas Station Owner Hires Armed Security Patrol
As it turns out, when you push strict gun control, gun crime rises. Who could have seen that coming? I guess criminals didn’t get the memo that they aren’t supposed to have guns. Maybe someone should tell them.
At the beginning of the year, I reported on 12 Democrat-run cities that broke their previous homicide records. By quite a bit, actually. Not to mention overall gun-related crimes, like robberies and carjackings. As you may have guessed, Philadelphia is on that list.
Unfortunately for the people of Philly, it isn’t getting any better. In fact, it is getting progressively worse. This finally led one gas station owner, who has had enough, to hire armed security to patrol his station.
According to ABC 6, “Neil Patel hired a private security company, Pennsylvania State Agents, to patrol his KARCO gas station at Broad and Clearfield streets three weeks ago, and now he has a daily armed presence with at least two agents on the premise nightly.”
One of his 22 stations, the Karco gas station at Broad and Clearfield streets, has experienced drug trafficking, robbery, gangs, etc. The final straw for Patel came after his business was vandalized, his car sustained damage, and an ATM was stolen.
Patel finally turned to Andre Boyer and the private security company Pennsylvania State Agents. However, Boyer makes it clear that they are not security, they are Pennsylvania State Agents. According to him, they do security details when the public calls on them when the police can’t be there.
Out of Options
Of course, it is no surprise that the move is met with mixed emotions. Boyer states that there was tension the first week, with many asking if they are in Beirut. While still others, specifically people with concealed carry licenses, approve and say they feel safer.
Patel tells Fox News, “I listen to them, but according to some people, violent people, they carry the guns, they’re not afraid of them? This is the protection for the neighborhood and the customers.”
Whether people like it or not, it appears to be the only thing Patel can do. Not to mention, he may be legally bound to do so. Philadelphia-based attorney David Thiruselvam represents victims of crime and currently has nine clients suing gas station owners after they were shot on their premises.
ABC 6 states, “Thiruselvam says, by Pennsylvania law, owners must protect customers from known dangers.”
The piece goes on to say that an Action News analysis of Philadelphia police data shows firearm robberies at gas stations have more than tripled over the last few years. Likewise, other crimes are on the rise as well.
The media and Democrat politicians would have you believe that guns don’t save lives. However, people living in the real world know better. Since hiring the security patrol, Patel claims that his business is free of loitering and other crime.
Clearly, guns save lives. Business owners know it and, more importantly, criminals know it.
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