Drivers of White Vans are being treated as criminals

Vanity | Self

[SamAdams76]

The photos above currently on the Drudge site concern me. I followed the link and the article clearly stated that nobody was arrested last night.

Why then, do we have drivers of white vans, innocent civilians, evidently being pulled out vans at gunpoint and treated like dangerous criminals? One photo shows a man on the ground, evidently in handcuffs, with police officers standing over him as though they have just captured Whitey Bulger. When I first saw the photo, I figured the man was obviously a wanted criminal that police just so happened to come across during their search. But since there were no arrests last night, this man was obviously released and was no criminal after all.

The other photo shows a man by another white van with his hands in the air and a police officer has a gun drawn on him. Again, this was evidently just another innocent civilian who had the misfortune to be driving a white van on I-95 last night.

Now I understand the need for these roadblocks and for the police to be very thorough in their search for the sniper(s). But I cannot see the point of innocent people dragged out of their vehicles at gunpoint with no pretext other than the fact that they happen to be driving a white van.

Now maybe somebody here has an explanation why these two individuals were treated like criminals. Maybe they tried to evade the police or maybe they were driving stolen vans. But again, there were no arrests made last night. So what is the deal with our citizens being treated like Jesse James just for driving a white van?

[ladyinred]

Well I suppose in your opinion, I am just stupid, so don't bother conversing with me okay? Obviously only your opinions are worthy of thought here, so I will just slink away totally demoralized by my own stupidity in thinking the police are just doing their jobs.

[McGavin999]

If not, you are not in a position to blast someone for raising questions or commenting on what they've seen.

Oh please, if you can't keep up, then don't bother to butt in.

[ladyinred]

Over here! (gee, I wasn't too stupid to know how to ping was I?)

[PatrioticAmerican]

es·quire   Pronunciation Key  (skwr, -skwr)
n.

1. A man or boy who is a member of the gentry in England ranking directly below a knight.
2. Abbr. Esq. Used as an honorific usually in its abbreviated form, especially after the name of an attorney or a consular officer: Jane Doe, Esq.; John Doe, Esq.
3. In medieval times, a candidate for knighthood who served a knight as an attendant and a shield bearer.
4. Archaic. An English country gentleman; a squire.

 

  Some lawyers give the other's a bad name is their high-n-mighty belief in their education and their false sense of English roots. Somfin we comminers just don't git, eh? I get a kick out of lawyers who put "esq." on their business cards. I picture them wearing an ascot and trying to smoke a pipe, choking on the smoke like the delusional juvenile that they are, with their mutt at their side thinking they are on their way to hunt fox.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

No, it wasn't Mumia. The perps name is Ronald Matthews. On a national level, most people never heard about it. But I think it illustrates the kind of dangers cops face every day. Tragically, the wrong man died. I would hate to see that happen in this case.

[Howlin]

Esquire is the common term used by lawyers all over this country. They don't do it to personally offend you.

Some lawyers give the other's a bad name is their high-n-mighty belief in their education and their false sense of English roots.

The same can be said about "some conservatives."

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You're welcome. I have a close friend who's a cop, and I understand the kind of dangers they face every day.

[McGavin999]

Freedom does not mean you will never ever be inconvenienced by the state. It means that you have the right to a due process. This is the due process of catching a killer.

Best comment of the day, thank you.

[Eva]

This is ridiculous. I mean the complaint against authorities searching white vans is ridiculous. Most of us have remarked that racial profiling should be use to track terrorists, but when it is a different kind of profiling, it is suddenly wrong?

[PatrioticAmerican]

"There is NOTHING unreasonable about asking to search a vehicle "

They are not "asking", but demanding at gun point.

This is from someone else:

"I do feel a tad sorry for anyone in VA that owns a white van. Iffin I did, I would paint the damn thing pink and chartruese. The one poor soul I saw last night got out of his van with a shotgun, AR and pistol pointed at him. Someone is going to have a heart attack before this is over with.

STOP THE MADNESS! "

[GirlShortstop]

If not, you are not in a position to blast someone for raising questions or commenting on what they've seen.
      Oh please, if you can't keep up, then don't bother to butt in.   LOL... apparently that is a cerebral response in your speedy world!

[Howlin]

Oh, dear, now you've done it. Pointed out the hypocrisy of their argument.

And aren't these the very same people who would be raising holy hell if the police sat back and waited for this guy/guys to surrender?

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Esquire is the common term used by lawyers all over this country."

Yes, I know, but hat doesn’t make it any less ridiculous.

[soozla]

"What tactics are appropriate in this situation? First of all, the police should be doing stakeouts at every restaurant, gas station and shopping mall possible along I-95. For the best chance of apprehending these snipers is to either catch them in the act or be on the scene within a minute of two of the attack. What annoys me is that whenever one of these snipings occur, you see hundred of police officers converging upon the scene where they proceed to mill about for hours. What are they all doing there?"

You can't "stake out" a sniper, sir/madam. The cops know this, and are trying to get a handle on what is probably THE MOST elusive of public threats. Ask ANYONE who has had sniper training in the military.

The public had better sober up and, as I said in my earlier post, co-operate in ALL WAYS POSSIBLE with the professionals trying to solve this.......this isn't Nintendo, X-Box or Playstation we're dealing with here and as you've seen on 9 different occasions, all it takes is one bullet.......you don't even know what hit you.......and EVRYONE, from NY to LA is an unwitting target, until we get this thing under control.

[adx]

3. never, ever 'smart mouth' the cop

Please define for the benefit of us serfs, so we know how to properly address our "betters".

[SamAdams76]

I was only referring to the stretch of I-95 in the area of the shootings. Didn't realize I had to explain that to you.

[Tench_Coxe]

"It rings a bell with me. It rings the "good citizenship" bell. The one you were responding to. "

Rings a bell with me, too. Except it was the "good German" bell.

[Eva]

It occurs to me that alot of posters care only for their own personal liberty and safety. As someone pointed out last night, the Libertarians seem closer to the socialist anarchists than they are to the Republicans, or Democrats.
They are probably afraid that the police will find drugs in the vans, since that is their overwhelming interest in life.

[XLurk]

White vans are inherently racist.
The destruction of the white race is now part of the official curriculum at Harvard.
Everything white is evil.

I just tossed all of my toilet paper into the dumpster.

[Howlin]

I'm sure you noticed, too, but they ARE moving south.