Once again the police in Montego Bay are reporting some success in the crime fighting tactics.

According to a story which appeared in the Monday The Star, five gunmen were shot and killed in a running gun battle along Barnett Street and Foster Avenue in Montego Bay.

The story further reported that one of the dead men, Collin Palmer, was a former teacher. He reportedly was the head of a gang, which terrorised residents in and around the community. He is said to have taught at three well-known Montego Bay schools.

Palmer was allowed to get an education and even join the workforce in the society, yet he chose to become a gunman.

Some might argue that the small sums of money teachers are paid to educate the minds of our young would lead any of them to turn to criminality to make a living. But one must recognise that although the pay cheque is poor, several of our teachers have chosen to do the legal thing and remain in the classrooms.

Mr. Palmer is living proof that whatever path people take in life is based on a deliberate choice that the person made. His story also proves that choosing to live by the gun could mean that you will die by the gun.

Other youth should be careful and ensure that they do not get lead astray and into bad things such as this teacher did as they could end up with a similar brutal end.