Comshaw
VAGITARIAN
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2000
- Posts
- 12,002
I ran across a meme from a friend who is conservative on my Facebook feed and it got me to thinking about this whole series of events and where we are.
First off I will say right up front: I support the protesters. They have a constitutional right to do so and should be allowed to exercise that right. I cannot in good conscience support one provision of our constitution (namely the 1st and 2nd amendment) without supporting the rest.
That being said, rioting, looting, destruction of property and harming other citizens is not part of that right. However, the protestors are supporting and protecting those who are doing just that. Why? Why on one hand are they protesting the actions of police departments that protect members of that department when they do things that are against the policy of the department or outright illegal and on the other hand protecting those who are breaking laws in their midst? Why take one faction to task and ignore or protect another that happens to be associated with them when both are culpable? Doing so only harms their cause. It makes the citizenry that isn’t involved with the protest think that, because the whole is protecting the faction that is breaking the law, the entire assemblage agrees with what those few are doing. Protecting those who riot and loot only poison the message the protesters are trying to impart.
I live in the Pacific Northwest so what happens here is of paramount importance to me. After reading several articles about the Seattle city council debating the defunding of the police department and the closing of their jail, I was concerned, puzzled and angry. Why? Read on.
The “defund the police” movement is a stupid knee jerk overreaction to the events that lead up to the protests. Defunding the police isn’t going to accomplish what those who tout it want it to. The same goes for closing or reducing the capacity of the jail. It isn’t going to accomplish what those who demand it want it to. All it’s going to do is make it less safe for the average citizen. Response times will increase. Crime will increase. The autonomous zone on Capitol Hill in Seattle and the outcome from that should be a lesson that doing away with police isn’t the answer.
If both those actions are carried out, there should be a third action taken with it: Every citizen should be instilled with all the powers that a police officer has. ALL OF THEM. If we do not have an organized police force, or if it is reduced to the point of being essentially ineffectual, then I want the authority to protect me and mine. Because without some form of organized law enforcement, without some way to enforce laws, you have anarchy. Human nature being what it is, anarchy doesn’t work for there is way too many who would take advantage of it to allow it to work.
I agree we need to demilitarize the police. There is no way in hell they need to be cruising around in armored cars, dressed in camos like storm troopers. Those types of things they acquire from them military should be stopped. However, there are a lot of other equipment they got that is beneficial: communication equipment, small boats (our sheriff department uses one from the military to patrol the local lakes), 4 wheel drive vehicles to name a few.
I also agree that SOME departments need to be reformed. I live in a small community and have worked with and observed local law enforcement. We do not have the same problems that other communities have with the culture of their law enforcement, but I know that some need to make some drastic changes. To do that the citizens of that community need to get involved and Instigate those changes. While demonstrations are a catalyst, calling attention to things that need to change, they will not and can not make those changes. People need to get involved in their communities, vote, run for local office, form a law enforcement citizen overwatch committee.
I think I have vented my spleen so I will call it a day and say adieu.
Comshaw
First off I will say right up front: I support the protesters. They have a constitutional right to do so and should be allowed to exercise that right. I cannot in good conscience support one provision of our constitution (namely the 1st and 2nd amendment) without supporting the rest.
That being said, rioting, looting, destruction of property and harming other citizens is not part of that right. However, the protestors are supporting and protecting those who are doing just that. Why? Why on one hand are they protesting the actions of police departments that protect members of that department when they do things that are against the policy of the department or outright illegal and on the other hand protecting those who are breaking laws in their midst? Why take one faction to task and ignore or protect another that happens to be associated with them when both are culpable? Doing so only harms their cause. It makes the citizenry that isn’t involved with the protest think that, because the whole is protecting the faction that is breaking the law, the entire assemblage agrees with what those few are doing. Protecting those who riot and loot only poison the message the protesters are trying to impart.
I live in the Pacific Northwest so what happens here is of paramount importance to me. After reading several articles about the Seattle city council debating the defunding of the police department and the closing of their jail, I was concerned, puzzled and angry. Why? Read on.
The “defund the police” movement is a stupid knee jerk overreaction to the events that lead up to the protests. Defunding the police isn’t going to accomplish what those who tout it want it to. The same goes for closing or reducing the capacity of the jail. It isn’t going to accomplish what those who demand it want it to. All it’s going to do is make it less safe for the average citizen. Response times will increase. Crime will increase. The autonomous zone on Capitol Hill in Seattle and the outcome from that should be a lesson that doing away with police isn’t the answer.
If both those actions are carried out, there should be a third action taken with it: Every citizen should be instilled with all the powers that a police officer has. ALL OF THEM. If we do not have an organized police force, or if it is reduced to the point of being essentially ineffectual, then I want the authority to protect me and mine. Because without some form of organized law enforcement, without some way to enforce laws, you have anarchy. Human nature being what it is, anarchy doesn’t work for there is way too many who would take advantage of it to allow it to work.
I agree we need to demilitarize the police. There is no way in hell they need to be cruising around in armored cars, dressed in camos like storm troopers. Those types of things they acquire from them military should be stopped. However, there are a lot of other equipment they got that is beneficial: communication equipment, small boats (our sheriff department uses one from the military to patrol the local lakes), 4 wheel drive vehicles to name a few.
I also agree that SOME departments need to be reformed. I live in a small community and have worked with and observed local law enforcement. We do not have the same problems that other communities have with the culture of their law enforcement, but I know that some need to make some drastic changes. To do that the citizens of that community need to get involved and Instigate those changes. While demonstrations are a catalyst, calling attention to things that need to change, they will not and can not make those changes. People need to get involved in their communities, vote, run for local office, form a law enforcement citizen overwatch committee.
I think I have vented my spleen so I will call it a day and say adieu.
Comshaw
