With crime rates rising in Atlanta and nearly weekly shootings dominating the headlines, a Dunwoody, Georgia-based ridesharing app is allowing people to hire armed drivers.
The Black Wolf App aims to make a difference in Atlanta
According to WSB-TV, the idea for Black Wolf app was hatched from Kerry King Brown At the end of last year.
At the time, KingBrown – who was acting as a professional bodyguard for celebrities and politicians – was offering ridesharing for his friend’s child and wanted everyone to have a safe ride.
“We have customers from the political sphere to the simple worker.”
KingBrown advises that all drivers using the Black Wolf app have worked in the military, law enforcement, or private security for at least five years.
“Our drivers are military, law enforcement and have been in the private security world for over five years. That’s the minimum we ask for. You can see a situation brewing before it happens.”
The company has just completed their first month and KingBrown estimates they have “probably done over 180 rides so far”.
Despite some criticism, KingBrown plans to expand to Los Angeles and continue to offer the service.
“We want to relieve you and relieve you as a driver of responsibility. I won’t listen to anyone who says it won’t work because it works.”
We should add that all Black Wolf app drivers are trained in de-escalation techniques and have not yet had to wield weapons.
The cost is comparable to that of an Uber Black, or about 50 percent more expensive than a standard ride.
A new ride-sharing company in Georgia offers you the opportunity to hire an armed driver to take you to your destination
“Our drivers are military, law enforcement and have been in the private security world for over five years. This is the minimum we require”https://t.co/L1hegBsDL0 pic.twitter.com/udZ4dz5cc3
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 7, 2023
Arming rideshare drivers has been a hot topic of discussion
It is important to note that this initiative does not come out of the blue.
Just last week, someone shot and killed a 30-year-old woman named Teisha Brewley in the back seat of an Uber in Buckhead. The authorities assume that it was a “targeted incident”.
We should add that Scottish Turner (R-Ga.) introduced a bill in 2019 that would have allowed rideshare drivers to carry firearms. While defending the move, Turner noted that preventing rideshare drivers from carrying firearms made them “sitting ducks.”
“Current politics makes rideshare drivers permanent ducks and they know it. Even if they don’t, drivers who don’t will have an advantage over those who do because people won’t see them as a soft target anymore.”
The bill ultimately fell through, although the Black Wolf app offers another avenue as a solution.
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