I’ve been quite taken aback by what I’ve seen in this regard over the last few days.
I always saw some bit of anti-cop, and it’s probably a good idea to take “the authorities” with a large grain of salt. But I’ve never seen this level of vitriol before.
The P.R. problem of Law Enforcement has been created by Law Enforcement institutions, training standards and expectations. Only Law Enforcement can fix the P.R. disaster they have created form themselves.
However it can’t be fixed just with talking points. If you remember Ford and the “Quality is Job One” campaign of the 80’s you will remember that this P.R. campaign was accompanied by a great leap in quality of the Ford products. So sloganeering is not enough. Actions must follow the slogans.
Some Leftard Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist wrote an article capitalizing on the Florida theater popcorn shooting:
Gun-rights fanatics (these days there are few who are not fanatics) insist that only a few poorly trained, mentally unstable or criminally inclined gun owners give all the millions of God-fearing, Constitution-defending firearms enthusiasts a bad name. But can anyone think of a person more well-trained and responsible than a retired police captain, SWAT team leader and security guard?
The Leftard failed (deliberately) to mention several salient facts:
1) Police are NOT required to take the CCW courses that "civilians" take, which teach them to RETREAT and AVOID a situation where they'll have to use their gun.
2) Police are now taught to CONFRONT and ESCALATE, especially SWAT team types.
3) There are no small number of American police officers using steroids, which increase aggressiveness.
So to answer the Leftard's rhetorical question: Yes, I CAN think of a number of persons more well-trained and responsible than a retired police captain, SWAT team leader and security guard, namely, most of America's ordinary CCW holders.
I think it's disgusting that the Left gets to use the actions of a confrontational pseudomilitary force that THEY silently assented to and helped create to attack law-abiding gun owners.