Merry Christmas and more
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas to those who actually read this blog. And a double Merry Christmas to those few who may have printed out a Libertarian petition and are working on getting a few signatures to get us on the ballot; and for those who have forwarded my blog on petitioning to friends. For those who have not, there is still time to help; and it would be a great present for those who are working to preserve freedom in Utah.
OK, on to the more serious business. A few weeks ago, many of us were shocked to see a UHP officer apparently becoming hysterical over a motorist who questioned his speeding ticket, and using his Taser when he should have used reason. Naturally, his superiors supported him in his decision. The very day of that decision by the UHP, I sat in a courtroom and listened to a bunch of macho police officers laugh and joke about what they would do with anyone who questioned their authority. I was, to say the least disturbed that they have not been taught decency in the use of police power.
This week, in Minneapolis, we narrowly missed a real tragedy when a bunch of police officers burst into a home without warning or identification, scaring the family inside half to death. The father of 6 children fired a warning shot before engaging the unidentified housebreakers in a firefight. Amazingly, despite three blasts from his shotgun, and 22 bulletes fired in return, nobody was injured. Seems the officers were serving a search warrant and got the wrong house (again). When homeowners have sued for such home invasions, courts have usually called it an honest mistake -- even when people have been killed.
It seems to me that there are just too many such mistakes without anybody being disciplined. And just maybe there are too many "no knock" warrants served under circumstances where somebody may get killed. I realize there are situations where this has to be done. But extreme care must be taken to avoid near tragedies like this. And when a mistake is made, somebody must be disciplined. That likelhoood will make them be more careful. And on this sacred day, let us thank God that there was no tragedy this time. If you want to increase the chances for avoiding it next time. help us get on the ballot and bring restraint to law enforcement. "The stakes are too high to stay at home."
And today the news reports that the recently graduated class at the Idaho Police Academy chose as its motto: "Don't suffer from PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder]. Go out and cause it." Doesn't that just warm your heart? I sure hope the New Year brings us something better; and it will if we fight for it!
Merry Christmas to those who actually read this blog. And a double Merry Christmas to those few who may have printed out a Libertarian petition and are working on getting a few signatures to get us on the ballot; and for those who have forwarded my blog on petitioning to friends. For those who have not, there is still time to help; and it would be a great present for those who are working to preserve freedom in Utah.
OK, on to the more serious business. A few weeks ago, many of us were shocked to see a UHP officer apparently becoming hysterical over a motorist who questioned his speeding ticket, and using his Taser when he should have used reason. Naturally, his superiors supported him in his decision. The very day of that decision by the UHP, I sat in a courtroom and listened to a bunch of macho police officers laugh and joke about what they would do with anyone who questioned their authority. I was, to say the least disturbed that they have not been taught decency in the use of police power.
This week, in Minneapolis, we narrowly missed a real tragedy when a bunch of police officers burst into a home without warning or identification, scaring the family inside half to death. The father of 6 children fired a warning shot before engaging the unidentified housebreakers in a firefight. Amazingly, despite three blasts from his shotgun, and 22 bulletes fired in return, nobody was injured. Seems the officers were serving a search warrant and got the wrong house (again). When homeowners have sued for such home invasions, courts have usually called it an honest mistake -- even when people have been killed.
It seems to me that there are just too many such mistakes without anybody being disciplined. And just maybe there are too many "no knock" warrants served under circumstances where somebody may get killed. I realize there are situations where this has to be done. But extreme care must be taken to avoid near tragedies like this. And when a mistake is made, somebody must be disciplined. That likelhoood will make them be more careful. And on this sacred day, let us thank God that there was no tragedy this time. If you want to increase the chances for avoiding it next time. help us get on the ballot and bring restraint to law enforcement. "The stakes are too high to stay at home."
And today the news reports that the recently graduated class at the Idaho Police Academy chose as its motto: "Don't suffer from PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder]. Go out and cause it." Doesn't that just warm your heart? I sure hope the New Year brings us something better; and it will if we fight for it!
posted by Andrew McCullough @ 2:37 PM
1 Comments:
At 6:51 PM,
Anonymous said…
Thank you for your blog. Happy New Year!
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