[506trooper]

"If those police officers and sheriff's deputies had even a shred of decency in their character, they should turn in their badges and guns rather than be the guardians of the Terri Schiavo death chamber.

Most police officers swear an oath like this or very similar to this.

"I,__________, do solemnly swear, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of _______ against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance, to the Constitution of the State Of _______; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties, of the office of Police Officer of the City of ______, acting to the best of my ability."

Nowhere does it state "except for laws I don't believe in, or if I feel like it."

Could I have handcuffed those kids? No.

But a LEO isn't supposed to choose (hypothetically) which law to enforce nor do they get to pick where their post is. Unfortunately, it is rule of law that put them there. It is not their choice as to what the law is.

Don't blame them, blame the people who made the law....better yet, blame the people who elected/appointed/confirmed the lawmakers/interpretors.

[Wallace T.]

I am not saying they should disobey the orders of their superior officers. However, lawmen should also be men of conscience. I cannot perceive how a man who calls himself moral can in good conscience enforce orders that will result in Terri Schiavo's death. The LEO must take the course of honor: resignation from the police force.

As far as the validity of the argument of "I'm just obeying orders," there was a court in Nuremberg, Germany, that met over a half century ago to try war criminals and lawmen who committed genocide. That court did not accept obedience to orders as an excuse for the murder of human beings.

[adc]

There is certainly alot of blame to go around here, but handcuffing kids who are trying to make a statement about decency to another human being in this particular case is beyond comprehension. It's as disgusting as the arrogance of the courts.