"The City of Brotherly Love," indeed; a Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant, faced with runaway crime in the area, has resorted to hiring armed guards to protect diners at their sidewalk tables.

"What we have become accustomed to in society is to react to issues once they happen," Victoria Wylie, co-owner of Jim’s West Steaks & Hoagies, told Fox News. "It's too late. One incident where someone is severely hurt or even passes away from me is not acceptable." 

"We're thinking about preventing violence and crime from happening versus reacting to violence and crime happening," Wylie continued. "We did it as a deterrent and a precautionary measure to really just say that we are thinking about all possible situations that could happen, and we want customers to know that safety is really important to us." 

Philadelphia, like many U.S. cities, has grappled with a crime surge in recent years, leading some businesses to take drastic steps to keep their customers and employees safe. The city surpassed 500 homicides the last two years, and overall crime was up nearly 16% year-to-date, according to Philadelphia Police Department data. 

A local news program on WPVI (6ABC Philadelphia) interviewed Wylie's co-owner, Cortez Johnson, who explained the issue.

One of the talking heads noted that "...some said it was alarming to see an AR-15." To that, I can only reply, "get used to it, because I'm betting more businesses will resort to this." Presumably, the sight of a weapon in the hands of a trained and certified armed security guard is not as alarming as being attacked, beaten, and robbed while trying to peacefully ingest some hot sliced beef, onions, and Cheez-Whiz -- and in Philadelphia these days, those two would seem to be among the few options.

The city faced nearly 70,000 property crimes in 2022, a 30% increase from the year prior, according to Philadelphia Police Department data. Armed robberies, meanwhile, have decreased by nearly 13% but are still up from pre-pandemic levels.

In September, groups of thieves targeted and ransacked several businesses across Philadelphia over multiple nights. Nearly 20 state-run liquor stores were looted, leading the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to announce that it was closing all 48 of the city's retail locations until it was safe.

We do live in uncertain times. For any young men of imposing build with some military or police experience, there are apparently going to be some job opportunities in private armed security, as the situations in our major cities descend more and more into chaos. And, yes, we're liable to see more and more groups like 1992's famous and courageous Roof Koreans. Nature abhors a vacuum, and there's certainly a vacuum in Philly; a vacuum of leadership from City Hall, and a vacuum of city officials dedicated to keeping order. Now, we see the citizenry themselves stepping up to fill the lack.

This news comes only days after a report came out about mass rioting and looting in this city, once best known as one of the wellsprings of American liberty, now known primarily for being a treacherous hive of scum and villainy. There have been a few high-profile arrests, but it's more obvious by the day that things are out of the municipal government's control.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Government, at all levels, has only two legitimate functions, to protect our liberty and our property. In this Philadelphia's municipal government is failing, utterly. And if you want a hint as to why this might be the case, consider this.

It's sad to see this in Philadelphia. The city is a famous one in the annals of American history. It was, in effect, the national capital prior to the establishment of the District of Columbia; the Continental Congress met there, the Articles of Confederation were ratified there, and the present Constitution was drafted and ratified there as well. It is indeed the hometown of the American experiment, and it's sad and shocking what is becoming of the city today.

But then, Philly has lots of company.