Posted on 08/20/2014 1:24:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Libertarians warned for years that government is force, that government always grows and that America’s police have become too much like an occupying army.
We get accused of being paranoid, but we look less paranoid after heavily armed police in Ferguson, Missouri, tear gassed peaceful protesters, arrested journalists and stopped some journalists from entering the town.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Stossel is a lib fool.
Say what you will about the militarization of local LEO’s, but one thing is clear.
The Ferguson PD (and St. Louis County) along with their tanks, tear gas and military gear did more to curtail the rioting and looting than did the State Troopers and the National Guard.
Only AFTER Captain Ron Johnson took over (and begn protesting with them people) did things get WORSE - not better.
Completely idiotic.
Stossel proving himself a foolish out of touch celebrity.
The government has a constitutional responsibility to the citizens to put down riots and insurrections.
--Individual cops may feel threatened -- and may be threatened in the course of doing their jobs -- but they still do not have the right to use more force than is necessary. Too often, panicked or angry cops pump multiple rounds into already-wounded suspects, as appears to have happened to Michael Brown.
FUJS
Glad he added that little addendum.
The problem with "militarizing" the police is when you have SWAT going through the door when a knock on the door would have sufficed. We do see this all too often.
But in the face of rioters and looters, a more muscular force is appropriate. Especially if you have any hope of stopping them from burning some poor guy's Mini-Mart to the ground.
I don't know why that distinction is so difficult. Apparently the cops have trouble getting the difference and so maybe does Stossel. SWAT to serve papers or gun down grandma, bad. Overwhelming force to stop looters and rioters, different story.
Emptying your gun into a 300 lb man trying to do you bodily harm, messy but human.
Your post seems to indicate that a heavily armed paramilitary police force is OK so long as they are applied against the “correct” targets.
I have some problems with that. The definition of “correct” is highly subjective, and may change not at all to your liking.
I’m against the militarization of the police in general. Every Federal agency doesn’t need a military style SWAT squad. Police don’t need an armed platoon breaking down doors, shooting dogs and terrorizing families to serve ordinary arrest and search warrants. But if there is one time when military style police tactics are warranted (no pun intended) it’s when armed rioters are looting and burning down businesses.
Looters should be shot on site. Do that nice all looting will stop.
For rioters, a nightstick to the head should suffice.
For peaceful protesters, stand to the side and let them execute their first amendment rights.
Yes sir. And I for one APPROVE of what the Ferguson PD did.
Now as to the question of if (when) they will use that firepower on regular law-abiding types instead of the street trash in Ferugson; we can only keep ourselves armed and diligent.
There will be no riots and insurrections from us. Unless, of course, they come for us first.
So if its militariazation that’s at fault for the rioting—
then what was at fault for the riots in the 60s 70s 80s and 90s???
I’m concerned about militraization of any and all government agencies
But to say ferguson was caused by it is f-ing stupid.
If someone shoots someone is it the guns fault or the person using it?
Good post.
People no longer bother to use balance. In this world of “equality” and “social justice”, a one-size-fits-all metric is the standard, unless it applies to something which can gouge whites, males, Christians, or heterosexual (normal) people.
Good point.
militarization— the latest scapegoat for black violent criminal behavior
(previous scapegoats-
slavery,
racism,
white devils,
profiling,
not enough spending...)
When government becomes half of the nation’s GDP,
damm right government is too big, too intrusive, and
a huge anchor around the feet of hard working, productive,
small business types.
If 10% is OK with the church, it should be enough for the government.
Stossel is not very bright nor is he at all street savvy. But he is right that cops have become too militarized. The answer to out of control riots is the national guard. The answer to 6’ 4” 300 pound criminals who bash your orbit in and then bull rush you is enough rounds to put him down on his face.
There is a difference between policing and putting down looting, rioting and mass criminality and for the latter the national guard is a much better solution because when the rioting is done the police still have to do police work.
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