You have the wrong idea there, I'm not a "bleeding heart." A "bleeding heart" would love LBJ's "Great Society" and say that it didn't go far enough. I'm for gutting it just about completely because it is fiscally irresponsible and has made us a worse society.
I agree with you that the street criminals are personally responsible for their criminal behavior and should be punished by the law accordingly. But at the same time, there are occasional instances of police overzealousness all over the country, where decent people are roughed up by police. Is it as big a problem in the overall scope of things as "feral mobs"? No. But if we are to maintain constitutional liberty, those problems have to be addressed as well. And the legacy of "Bull" Connor was that of a police chief who encouraged excessive force on the part of his officers in the street.
OK, I’ll take you for your word that you’re not a “bleeding heart” and are not a Democrat that loves the idea of the Great Society. However, you must admit that your screen name indicates as such.
And I’ll grant that the police are often nothing but aggressive b—tards with a gun and badge. I often comment along those lines, especially on threads involving dogs killed by these “things.” I have a visceral dislike of LEOs in general, not because of any series of encounters (couple traffic tickets), but because I think they are selected for their aggressive personalities.
The people of Birmingham were appreciative of Bull Connor for keeping the criminals (black and white) in check, though, and I endorse that because I lived there then. Today, it looks like we as citizens (and I’m thinking of homeowners and store owners here) will have to do the job because the police and political leaders will not do the job because of the ferals’ color, you understand. It’s come down to that in this country.